The U.S. Coast Guard will hold a public meeting seeking comments on plans to create an anchorage for ships waiting to use the ports of Hampton Roads off of Cape Charles. While ships currently use the area for anchorage purposes, it became necessary to create the official anchorage area after the Navy, which controls the waters off of Lynnhaven indicated it needs the area for training purposes.
Currently Navy sailors coming home from months of deployment, often have to be shipped off to other locations for additional training. In an effort to improve morale which includes improving the family lives of Navy personnel, it was decided to try to offer as much training locally as possible so members can spend time at home between deployments.
The meeting will occur August 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cape Charles Civic Center. The Coast Guard is seeking community input on the matter. Comments may be submitted in writing as well as at the meeting. You can submit comments at the federal e-rulemaking portal at http://regulations.gov using the code USCG-2015-1118. On line comments must be entered by August 28.
It might be worthwhile to try and find out what the envisioned/allowed uses of the anchorage will be. Exclusive use by the Navy, versus use as a commercial anchorage may have different implications. I worked running launch boats for Shawn’s launch in Norfolk in 1980. Ships sat at anchorage for months awaiting their turn to get loaded with coal (was during an OPEC inspired oil shortage). We would ferry a dozen or so crewmen at a time ashore for them to go hit the bars or shop. They would typically come ashore around dinner time or so and return to the ship around midnight to 2AM. They were normally pretty quiet by the time they got back to the launch boat to return to the ship, but you have to remember these are men who are confined to the ship for weeks to months at a time that need to come ashore for some R & R. These are the commercial crews I’m referring to, not the Navy. And they certainly did come ashore with money to spend. Many did not speak English, as they came from countries all over the world.
Anyway, I’m not offering an opinion one way or another, just offering some thoughts on the process.
Editor’s Note: Thanks for input David. This background and insight is very helpful.
The SeaMist Lounge at the Old Candlelight entertained many of these merchant seamen. In a post 911 world, I wonder if these crews would be allowed off the vessels, as during those days.
Grind, chlorinate(if we are lucky) and overboard for human sewage, no treatment for “grey water”. I warned of this over a year ago. I am not sure of “new” ships’ holding facilities.
Janet Sturgis, Ships have better sewage treatment systems than shore side, and they have to account for every drop, plus all their trash. Most ships are self contained, if the commercial anchorage is moved to Cape Charles, one thing for sure will happen, JOBS
Yes, Smitty, we need the JOBS, but we do not need contaminated shellfish beds and fouled beaches. The newer ships do have more modern methods of treatment, but many still discharge overboard after only cursory treatment, and there is always the risk of a faulty or unmonitored system sending untreated or improperly treated effluent overboard. Just over a month ago, I was on the Bay, a couple of miles or so from the shipping channel, and wittnessed what I KNOW was a VERY large trail of semi treated sewage in the water. It had been a heavy ship traffic day, as we counted many going up to Baltimore. And, if I recall, wasn’t there a plan discussed about a year ago about running a pump and haul service to tend these systems out of Cape Charles? Call me skeptical, but the old anchorage area and nearby , was declared a no discharge area just about the same time as the anchorge move was first announced. All those high rise condos on the VA Beach side must be releived that sewage and garbage from that anchorage will not be washing up on their beaches now. And again, more JOBS in Northampton would be nice.
Janet, You are wrong on so many levels here, ship board sewer systems are better managed and maintained than our own here in Cape Charles. second of all what you saw on the water is what is known as a tide run by your description. a tide run happens where the ebb tide meets the flood tide during the change and where the salinity in the water is high it creates a foamy looking mess. So unless you tested it and a lab found it to be i’m sure your incorrect. finally anywhere in the waters of United States of America and out 3 nautical miles is a no discharge zone. this means not even foreign ballast water. these vessels have very strict log books that we rely on our government officials to review (Which they do) when they reach U.S. Waters. The Shipping industry is one of the most regulated industries in the world. now with that said ships that do not have to make the United States a port of call only have to follow the regulations that are set forth for the country they are visiting, and a lot of countries are not as strict as the United States. Also you do realize that three years ago at one point and time we had almost 30 ships anchored outside of Cape Charles for a few months. I don’t remember hearing anything that washed up on our beach do you?
http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/vwd/vsdmsd.cfm
http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Portals/0/DEQ/Water/Guidance/082003.pdf
http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/WaterQualityInformationTMDLs/TMDL/NoDischargeZoneDesignations.aspx
http://www.law360.com/articles/228189/va-removes-no-discharge-zone-from-chesapeake-bay
Smitty,
I have spent the entirety of my 62 years living on the Bay or one of its tributaries, or within 1 mile, so I know what a “tide run” looks like.
Having worked for the State Health Dept. for 13 of those years, inspecting and enforcing regulations and assisting in remediation of violations at food establishments, institutions, marinas, food processing plants, sewage disposal systems, water systems, etc. , I am well acquainted with the appearance of untreated/partially treated human waste.
There are regulations in place for limits on coliform bacteria( used as an indicator for the possible presence of other pathogens)but there are no parameters for nutrient discharge regarding these on board facilities. (An interesting point here; these is mounting evidence, that in warm water conditions, these coliform may actually die off more quickly, and may under-indicate contamination levels.)
If humans always obeyed the rules, we would not need the personnel and mechanisms in place to monitor and enforce them or bring those breaking the rules into compliance.
The main trunk of the Bay and the mouths of its major tributaries are exempted from the no discharge rule, unless a rule has been specifically imposed in that area. Due to our shellfish industry and human contact with those waters(swimming etc) maybe a no discharge zone should be declared for the harbor and anchorage areas.
During the three years you mention in your comments, I was addressing a serious health issue and was basically out of the loop.
If you have newer or conflicting resources for information regarding the links, please share.
I look forward to a continued civil discourse and exchange of ideas.
Hopefully we will have the opportunity for a face to face soon.