2020 was apparently the year that was marked by concerted attacks against the Shore working man.
First, there was the attack against Kelly’s Pub, where several ne’er do wells, with too much time on their hands, and not enough intelligence or common sense to compensate decided they would form a boycott and put the place out of business.
Then there was the group of concerned citizens that went after Coastal Concrete for making too much noise.
The latest group to be targeted are commercial fisherman.
The Cape Charles Yacht Center has begun the New Year by increasing its effort to run commercial waterman out of the harbor. As of January 1st, the current fuel cards will no longer work at the harbor.
The fuel cards are attached to the owner’s credit or debit card and allow working fishermen to get fuel at crucial times.
By eliminating all fuel cards working boats will only be able to get fuel between business hours. Being able to obtain fuel outside of business hours is critical for commercial fishermen.
In many cases, boats come off the water late, sometimes very low on fuel. Not being able to fill up until the harbor opens will cause many to miss a whole day of work.
Many are concerned that this is the first shot across the bow, and that raising slip fees on fisherman is the next step in moving them out.
Opinion: If we want Cape Charles Harbor to remain a commercial fishing port, commercial fishermen need to have the ability to work and operate. Town Council needs to decide what its priorities are.
Roy Ballard says
I guess good ole clams , oysters , fish and horseshoe crabs just don’t excite the incoming seafood lover of today . Scows and small wood boats aren’t the fancy craft of the far north lobster boats seen in other harbors along with shrimpers bringing in their seafood for trade to the shore crowd of today.
Shame on you Cape Chuck these folk put their backs into the trade that feeds many tables including their own and you the high and mighty turn your backs to them to get fuel for their trade. The whole year of 2020 is full of bad and your fuel issues just spread some more foul tasting sauce for the local working folks of the area . Keep up the good work and your dreams of a total new town will come true , but at what price .
Stuart Bell says
Damn Roy, they can’t handle the truth…much less you holding that clean mirror up for them to look at themselves in. LOL!
MJM says
Commerce is the life’s blood of any society. To attack it and destroy it has to be one of the most ignorant acts on the face of the earth. We also have many locals and tourists who love to visit the docks and see these boats and crews come and go. It is a large part of “destination Cape Charles”. I am hoping this is a glitch in a new banking system that has caused this situation for the commercial fishermen, and a difficulty that will VERY SOON be fixed. Sudenly shutting off the pump is a direct extension of the cancel culture and is an attempt to destroy a business, or many. Wasn’t the card a direct access to a watererman’s bank account, like a ROFO card ? Wasn’t the bill being paid ? If some bills weren’t being paid then you simply shut off the accounts of the offenders. You do not shut them all off. Create a better system that works if that is the problem. If this situation is the result of anyone deliberately trying to put commercial fishermen out of business, then this article is telling us that those that made this decision are the ones who should be cancelled.
Thor says
I see a business opportunity, mobile fuel delivery there are a few companies that come to job sites and fuel construction equipment and fleet vehicles why not boats.
Crabbepotter57 says
Not allowed, I have fuel delivered to my boat when in Oyster. Can’t have that in cape charles.
Phil Ralph says
I suspected this would have already been in place as you say. What a shame – across the board.-
jim Kaczmarek jr says
How about a Fuel boat? Do transfers 100 yards off shore?
I did a ton of ship to ship refueling in the Navy during unreps!
I would think boats tied together with bumpers in place and a transfer pump and some hose could get it done..
When I moved to the shore working as assistant director of Operations for NCPS in 2006 I was WARNED not to move to Cape Charles , Eastville or Exmore and told to buy in Accomack. I live outside Parksley and so glad I listened to advice!
MJM says
The stated “all hours of the day and night” that watermen work can for sure be an obstacle. Phones do help it tremendously. What I see as a huge problem ? If this is a move to drive the watermen away, I doubt the fule delivery service could get permission to make deliveries at this property. The truck would just be another shut off pump. What is the real reason for these cards to no longer work ?
jim Kaczmarek jr says
You said what I was thinking! Might go buy a used fuel transport truck from a airport auction and upgrade my CDL with a endorsement to carry fuel.
Or maybe a boat that can carry fuel and do transfers to returning fishing boats.
David Moore says
Ha! Jim I can’t think of a better way to LOSE $$$! Keep your day job brother!
Pete Baumann says
I support the watermen!
David Schauber says
Any county docks. We’ve had to use em in the past.
MJM says
When you go to The Cape Charles Yacht Center website there is a place there to “rate the center”. An opportunity to make a fair assessment of the quality of the work and hospitality of the Yacht Center. I am not saying that anyone should imitate Jay C. Ford and recommend cancellation of this business. They should be made aware of the fact that they are not keeping to their original stated intentions of the way they will conduct business. Shutting off the ability to make money for commercial watermen is not a method of theirs. They welcome all business. There is also a reference to an article in Chesapeake Bay magazine where they state their intentions for Cape Charles. Read it. What I am saying is that the owners rave about themselves and another yacht center they own in Belfast Me. They laud their own relationship with the locals and the way they have preserved the working part of the marina, while welcoming new business and new boat and yacht owners. They go on to talk about their desire to do the same in Cape Charles. They mention a 1 year review from puchase that is to be ongoing with the town Council of Cape Charles. The owners talk about their desire to get along . I do not work in Cape Charles. Who has approached The Town Council to ask just what is going on ? Is the Town Council approaching these Marina owners to discover the reason for these pumps to be shut off ? Is everybody out of town ? I again say I hope it is just a change of bank thing or something, and an oversight, and that the pumps will quickly be turned back on, and the watermen’s pump cards will work, or that new ones will quickly be issued. I never met a shy waterman in my life and I bet 1 or 2 or 20 guys are about to walk into that Marina office and get to the bottom of this. If it turns out the Marina owners have turned the pumps off, then they deserve to be rated as the liars they are, and the town council needs to be told the Marina owners have lied to get the business opportunity and they need to either fix it or be told these new owners voided the agreement themselves if they are not going to serve the watermen.
Gwen Smith says
They all will see in the end exactly what they have created in the beautiful town surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay ” Cape Charles ” as I have stated before those that have the money have already SOLD OUT THE TOWN OF CAPE CHARLES FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY. IT’S ALL ABOUT $$$$$$
Deborah Elliott says
They have no knowledge of the the real function of the bay life. This is the land of the living. We have thrived here even in the toughest of times became of the food resources. The land takes care of itself when you use your natural resources. The town and county needs to be productive. This idea of resort city on both sides of the bay is unreal.
Jay Fields says
Has anyone actually given this topic any thought? Could it be a simple matter of liability and insurance? Please point me to a gas station that accepts credit cards at the pump,that when closed you can still pump your gas?
Paul Plante says
Uh, Jay, yes, I have given this topic some thought, and what I came across was this:
As of January 1st, the current fuel cards will no longer work at the harbor.
end quotes
What I took from that is before January 1st, unlike a closed gas station, you could have gotten gas with your fuel card, even when the marina was closed.
That thought of mine was reinforced by the sentence that said, “(T)he fuel cards are attached to the owner’s credit or debit card and allow working fishermen to get fuel at crucial times.”
Now, by eliminating all fuel cards working boats will only be able to get fuel between business hours., while being able to obtain fuel outside of business hours is critical for commercial fishermen.
That’s what I took from my reading of the article – that as of January 1st, something that was permissable and on-going the day before, commercial fishermen getting gas outside of business hours, can no longer be done.
The pertinent is why.
You say, “(C)ould it be a simple matter of liability and insurance?”
And of course, it could be.
But if that were the case, don’t you think they would have posted that insurance restrictions no longer allow filling outside of business hours?
Jay Fields says
To Paul, who seems to enjoy seeing his words on this page – Do hotels explain to you why glass containers are not allowed near the pool? Does the amusement park explain why you must be x tall to go on a ride?
Margins on fuel are small but why would a business want to reduce their revenue? The fisherman consumes more gas than a weekend sailor.
Could it be that the majority of fishman accounts are in arrears? The fuel card is attached to an account. Their bank account could have $10 in it and they’ll still be able to pump gas. The fuel card doesn’t check bank balances. They aren’t doing away with the fuel card as much as doing away with buying on credit.
As I stated before, you haven’t given it much thought, but you sure do like to write a lot of words
MJM – If you are so worry about the fisherman and the marina why isn’t your boat in the marina?
If there was some actual reporting done maybe you could find a waterman with a card and have said waterman ask the marina for the reason the policy changed, or we can do what we normally do here and whine.
Paul Plante says
Jay, might I say to you that you do seem very nice, nicer than a lot of other people whose names I won’t mention, because that would be a needless diversion, you and they already know who they are, enough said.
And thanks for clarifying what is really going on in here for all of us so that we no longer really have to spend time wondering what is really going on in here.
Speaking on behalf of the American people, your efforts are appreciated.
Paul Plante says
Jay, are you saying that you know the watermen are a bunch of deadbeats who don’t pay their bills?
Or is that your speculation?
Do you think the people who own yachts have better credit because they have huge bank accounts?
MJM says
Well I certainly have to resond to this. I am on the side of these watermen because I see no real reason to shut off the cards. Why ? Do you like their cards shut off ? Why would anyone ? It sounds like they’ve been cancelled and Jay C. Ford flipped the switch. ! I see no one coming in here and stating as to exactly why these cards were apparently shut off as a complete group and also apparently offerred no alternative to 24 hr. gas purchases. As I have stated before, if there are offending accounts, you shut them off. That’s fair. Cards work at many closed gas stations as I have already stated. I see no difference to that situation here. My card(s) do because I pay my bill. I see no reason why this has to happen to these watermen. Was there a special event that caused this ? I never like it when anybody’s job is made harder. It’s simply rude and dumb and I’d like to stand on the thumbs of any putz who does deliberately make a working man’s job harder. How’s THAT ? Now as to why isn’t my boat, or my 2 boats buying fuel in Cape Charles ? Well I don’t want to stand on my own thumbs either. Why don’t you ask the guys that work Tangier Sound the same ? Why don’t they buy their fuel in Cape Charles and then spend hours going back to Tangier Sound and then go home to Crisfield or Tangier ? ? Or ask somebody that lives in Onancock and works in Salisbury, why don’t they drive to Va. Beach to buy their gas ? My clam beds are bout 40 miles from Cape Charles, and probably 65 miles if I go by water.In a shallow water boat I’d also take a real beating, which I guess you’d like. If you know any watermen that work like that they won’t be working the water for long. I ask again. Why exactly were these cards shut down ? Have the guys been offerred an alternative to be able to have 24 hr use ? And I repeat that the town council should be notified that the new marina folks lied to the town to get permission to buy the marna if they don’t fix this and that they themselve voided the agreement that gave them permission to now operate the marina. That’s (you guessed it ! ) FAIR. Has the town council chimed in yet ? I also think some real reporting was done here. The story is the cards are shut off. I don’t expect Wayne to have the answers and solution. I’m voicing my opinion sincerely because I believe both the Town Council and marina owners see this paper. Wayne hasn’t been cancelled yet, although Jay C. Ford I bet is working on it. I think the council and marina should chime in and fix, what appears to be, this unfair aituation.
MJM says
I’m a waterman who trailers his boat to a dock damn near every day, weather permitting. My men are digging 50 baskets of clams RIGHT NOW. The Wine Rack in Onley on Rte 13, a.k.a. EXXON. Right across the highway from Wally World. I pull up there all the time at 4:30 a.m. or wheneverI want when the store inside is closed and I fuel up with a card all the time. MANY gas stations all over The Shore and the country are open all night to pump your own fuel. So that is not the question. What station does help you pump in Va. is more the question. We all pump our own. What do I need to also be able to buy a bag of potato chips for at the same time ? The inside clearks raraely help with fuel. I keep hoping I am going to read that the cape Charles Marina has fixed this dilemma. If not, the Town Council needs to void the agreement for the new managers of The Marina. The town and the watermen were promised IN WRITING that watermen were welcome and would be supported.
David Moore says
Right on MJM!
Rob Headley says
I appreciate the convenience of having a non ethanol gas pump at the marina. I have used it often and would continue to do so. Why not simply have a pump that takes credit cards directly? Not attendant would be required. I hope that the CC Yacht Center will provide this service.
David Moore says
You need to get out more..they are all over and yes MARINA’s after hours.
Bruce N. says
Yet more disappointing news coming out of the beautiful town of Cape Charles.
I feel it is the right of the public to see a copy of the management agreement for the harbor signed by the Town Council published for all to see. That would easily solve the question as to whether it is in writing that the watermen are to be supported. Which I surely hope it states, in at minimum some auspicious “New Cape Charles” sort of way.
It disappoints me as it seems that some may have forgotten that the people of the Eastern Shore survived, yes we persevered for a very long time before the Yacht Center arrived. Before all of the “come here’s” landed on OUR piece of heaven. Disappointing to think that anyone would actually ruminate that it would be easy to push the watermen out of the way.
What exactly is the towns plan? What happens when the room runs out? When we can no longer walk down the docks? When you can no longer walk to the docks and buy a bushel of crabs? What exactly is Cape Charles without our local seafood industry? I suppose the Old Bay flowing through the air as the crabs boil might be a bit too much for certain “yuppies”…. I suppose the same people who cannot handle the spice, or reality of life with a true working harbor may also not understand that the same watermen they are hopefully “not” pushing out are actually helping our local economy. But then again it isn’t placing money in their pockets, and it doesn’t “look pretty.”
Of course, this is all my speculation, I am certain the town of Cape Charles elected officials would never agree to such a heinous bargain, just to remove the dirty work from their own scope.
Speaking of dirty work, I recall rumor mill ramping some time ago regarding a certain Yacht Center principal going on’s. I may recall it was along the lines of the Yacht Center not pulling on the resources of the local small business force, they will utilize their own staff. When reviewing the roster local’s are are slim. Great way to keep local economy, partnerships, and camaraderie at the forefront, locals must have learned nothing from the years of perseverance. But then again, it was just a rumor…
I could speak at lengths regarding this topic lest I must move on. However, lastly something else came to mind as I thought about whether I should say anything on this news piece.
I am not much of a morning person, bless the hearts of the watermen that awake long before most of us. To my point, when I find myself at the harbor in the afternoons, nearly every time I have been in the neighborhood, I have seen multiple Town of Cape Charles vehicles at the pump, filling police cars and other municipal vehicles. I’m curious also to now know, have their cards been “suddenly” cut off?
I must reiterate this is all speculation, I am certain the town of Cape Charles elected officials would never benefit itself before anyone else.
Andrew Dufresne says
Shame on the town for allowing this. If they couldn’t manage the harbor, maybe they should have looked a little deeper into the PEOPLE running the harbor. It seems the town is losing a fair amount of revenue giving the harbor up, yet STILL employing the same helplessly inept people who ran the harbor! And speaking of helplessly inept, the CCYC is just awful all around from management to the lowest employee. There isn’t a local boat they’ve worked on that they haven’t nearly destroyed. They keep the local tradesman employed by doing work that needs repaired as soon as the boats leave the yard! Many of the staff are not only on drugs, but SELL drugs out of the yard. The principals of the CCYC have overstayed their welcome in my eyes. They should have ended the lease at the end of the original 18 months. They’ve tried to run before they could crawl and they have done nothing but create a bad name locally. Their reputation is pretty horrid even after the firing of a few of their problem children. The boaters with a sense of pride for their vessels use the CCYC only out of quick convenience, and do their scheduled maintenance across the bay. They’ve really turned their back on the locals and it just makes many of us sick. This is the last straw for many local boat people. I speak for a great many when I say “Go back to Maine.” In the end it’s the lifelong local waterman who are paying for the delusions of grandeur these out-of-town losers dream of. From the town officials, to the principals of the CCYC, I say “take a hike.” This year will be prosperous for everyone but the locals and the town has co-signed it. When does it all stop?
Paul Plante says
What a GREAT letter!