Effective operation and care of a marina depends on the implementation of a diverse number of planning documents and procedures that are best developed in advance of an incident or issue that actually requires their guidance.

Establishment of thoughtful planning and managerial programs can greatly improve safety, lower operating costs and mitigate liability for a marina. Many marina administrative programs and procedures are required to meet regulatory requirements and having them in place can prevent a costly fine.

This is an annotated list of policies, plans and procedures you should consider implementing at your marina or small craft harbor. Don’t allow the list to overwhelm you. Prioritize the needs of your facility and take these planning documents on, one at a time. Certainly, Pacific Harbor Advisors would be glad to assist you in the development of these programs and procedures.

• Employee Handbook and Personnel Policy – Failure to comply with employment law can be costly to a marina. A good employee handbook will improve your management relations with staff and help prevent unnecessary litigation. Items to consider include job descriptions, compensation plans, drug and alcohol use policies, internet usage, benefits, conduct and workplace safety.
• Workplace Safety – Employers are required to provide for the safety of employees and there are many OSHA mandated programs and practices that need to be in place at a marina. Some of these hazard communications, material safety data sheets, lifejacket use, hearing and respiratory protection, lockout/tagout and fall protection. Marina employees need to keep themselves safe and also need to lookout for their customers or visitors. Staff needs to be familiar with water and boating safety, first-aid and emergency response.
• Facility Safety and Incident Response – An effective incident management plan is actually a set of specific sub-plans that focus on individual areas of concern. A marina should establish, implement and train to these plans. Some examples of plans that should be considered for adoption by a marina address fires, boatyard policy, electrical equipment use, sinking boats, medical emergencies, person in the water, domestic/workplace violence, maritime security, robbery, natural disasters and severe weather.
• Environmental Responsibility – Marinas have a obligation to be environmentally responsible and a facility that does not address these timely issues will soon be out of business. Adoption of sound environmental policy can greatly benefit a marina in its relations with the community and natural resource management agencies. Some programs that should be considered include clean marina certification, oil spill response, best management practices (BMPs), Spill, Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plans (SPCC) for facilities that collect or handle fuel and oil, stormwater management, and ongoing compliance with facility permits.
• Marina Operations Manual – One of the most important things a harbor manager can do is compile a customized, written operations manual. A written reference is essential in many ways. Staff and management need access to clear instructions for business procedures, emergency procedures, and personnel rules. Documentation is key in the defense of lawsuits. A good operations manual provides continuity and helps staff to bridge knowledge gaps caused by absences of key personnel, or the infrequent occurrence of emergency events.
• Employee Training – Your staff represents the marina to the public and is the group that gets things done everyday. The more employees know about the operation and care of a facility, the better they are able to make it a success. An employee development or training program is an investment in your staff and marina. Staff should be trained in subjects such as boating safety, first-aid, facility maintenance, hazardous materials response, business management and critical incident response.

This listing is just one broad example of planning and program efforts that should be considered by a marina. Each facility is unique and many jurisdictions impose their own requirements. It’s not too soon to start planning to develop a set of plans and procedures to support the operation and maintenance of your marina.

Unanticipated falls into the water aren’t just a problem for the commercial fishing industry; it can be a serious problem for a harbor. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Alaska Sea Grant and Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) teamed up to produce an excellent video on how to prevent and respond to man overboard situations. Many of the strategies and procedures documented in this video could be considered for use in a marina.

Many floating docks can have significant freeboard, limiting the chances of successful self-rescue from the water. Combined with the effects of cold water, a fall into the waters of a harbor could prove deadly to crew and customers alike. Getting someone out of the water is more difficult than most people can imagine. Having the right equipment in place, like ring buoys and safety ladders, combined with staff rescue training can make all the difference with an unplanned fall into the water. Watch this informative safety video and be more prepared on the water, both in and out of the harbor.

Man Overboard Prevention and Recovery

One important question to ask is, “What is clean boating?” As a longtime advocate for conservation and protection of our natural resources, I can tell you what it’s not. Clean boating isn’t some high-minded conspiracy; it’s a practical way for us to operate our watercraft responsibly. Clean boating isn’t some recent regulatory scheme; it’s an outlook we adopt that considers the effects of our actions as they relate to the greater good. Clean boating doesn’t need to be expensive; many best practices both limit environmental impacts and save money.

As a harbormaster in Alaska, I have seen the concepts of clean boating touch many parts of the waterfront community. While I’ll share some ideas about this issue, clean boating is really an approach and mindset boaters take as they enjoy the things they do. There are a myriad of things that could be considered by green boaters. Solutions developed to address an environmental impact in one region may not be appropriate in your marina, it’s important for boaters to share their experiences and pass this knowledge on to others.

Both boaters and marina operators can take positive steps to limit the effects boating has on the environment. A few clean boating topics that might be of interest focus on saving fuel, practicing good marine stewardship and keeping marinas clean.

Saving Fuel Saves Money and Reduces Engine Emissions

The immediate driver for saving fuel is its cost, gasoline and diesel fuel prices are at near record highs. Taking steps to lower boat fuel consumption directly lowers operating costs, but it also helps lower our impact on the environment. A gallon of burned diesel fuel generates around 22 pounds of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Saving fuel is a matter of balance and careful vessel maintenance. A few fuel saving and emission reduction hints:

• Practice good seamanship – Learning to be a better coastal navigator allows you to plan trips that account for prevailing winds and tides. Running with the current saves fuel. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Plotting a route reduces the distance traveled to the intended destination. This is information that is needed for filing a float plan.
• Consider purchasing a four-stroke outboard engine – Four-stroke outboards use the same combustion process used in automotive engines and are the cleanest outboards to operate. Unlike two-stoke engines, four-strokes never have an intake and exhaust port open at the same time, allowing unburned fuel to be expelled in the exhaust. The first four-strokes offered to boaters were low powered and it took a few years for technology to develop higher horsepower versions that didn’t weigh too much.
• Use a biodegradable two-cycle outboard oil if you are running a 2-stroke engine – Conventional two-cycle outboard engines, by design, release significant amounts of fuel and lubricating oil into the environment. There are many, many two-stroke outboards in use that have many years of useful life left in them, while it isn’t practical to arbitrarily replace a functional motor, using a biodegradable two-cycle oil helps mitigate their impacts.
• Maintain your boat – Good vessel maintenance saves fuel by ensuring engine efficiency and smooth movement through the water. Fouled spark plugs, clogged fuel nozzles, dirty filters and poor timing lower engine efficiency and raise fuel consumption. Keep the bottom clean and propellers free of nicks or dings. Grass or barnacles reduces a hull’s performance and requires more power to push a boat through the water. Consider installation of trim tabs, they can reduce hull drag and help get a boat on plane sooner.
• Slow down and lose some weight – Slow down and find the right combination of speed and throttle. Each vessel has a sweet spot where it is most efficient for the fuel being used. Most boats burn 50 percent more fuel at a wide open throttle setting compared to a mid-range point. Boats seem to accumulate weight through gear and equipment added throughout the season. A heavier boat requires greater power and fuel consumption to move it at any speed.
• Use shore power while in the slip – Typically power from the local electrical grid is generated at lower costs than can be achieved by an onboard generator. Many communities are served by hydroelectric generation systems that produce lower emissions.

Marine and Environmental Protection

Marine debris is a threat to the aquatic environment everywhere and boaters can incidentally contribute to the problem. Boat operations generate tons of potential pollutants and toxic wastes every year. Boaters and marina operators can do a number of things to protect pristine areas and wildlife habitat through responsible or best practices in their operation and maintenance of boats and harbors.

As they age, marinas often become attractive refuges for plants and wildlife. Floating docks, pilings, breakwaters and shorelines are colonized by shellfish and aquatic vegetation, making them a perfect home for fish, birds and marine mammals. These suggestions will lessen the impact boat operations may have on the local environment:

• Exercise leave no trace practices – Boaters can learn from the popular leave no trace (LNT) program that stresses minimal impacts to the environment through actions like proper waste disposal, respecting wildlife, preserving natural and historic resources, and consideration of others. Pack it in – pack it out is an axiom of the movement.
• Minimize the maintenance and storage of boats in the water – Most communities have upland facilities for the storage and care of boats. It is much easier to contain the wastes generated by bottom cleaning at an onshore station than in the water. There are risks of spills from stored boats and something like an oil spill is much easier to clean up on land.
• Marina design can protect the environment – Mooring facilities can be designed to work better with nature and its wildlife. Marinas can be improved by providing adequate upland comfort stations, using screened trash receptacles, and designing moorings that minimize shading of aquatic vegetation. Responsible marina operators provide sufficient pump-out facilities and properly equipped fuel docks.
• Operate within channels and watch wakes – It is important for boaters to operate within defined harbor channels. Running in shallow water or generating a large wake can erode soils on the bottom and along the shore. Erosion damages aquatic vegetation and puts more sediment into the water column. Excessive wakes can easily damage other boats.
• Ensure the use of proper sanitation practices – Use and maintain approved marine sanitation devices (MSDs) as recommended by the manufacturer and as required by law. Encourage passengers to use upland comfort stations prior to a trip and use marina pump-out facilities upon your return. Don’t discharge wastes into a mooring basin or marina. Most marinas already have compromised circulation and wastes introduced into the waters lower the amount of oxygen available to wildlife in the aquatic environment.
• Be aware of transporting invasive species – Thoroughly clean your boat before moving to another body of water. There are many invasive species of plants and animals that can easily hitchhike on your trailer or boat to a new habitat. Accidental introduction of a species like the Green crab could devastate native wildlife and local economies.

Alaska Clean Harbors Guidebook

A broad ranging group of Alaskan organizations have joined forces to develop a guidebook and certification program that will help keep state harbors clean. Most Alaskan communities use the term harbor synonymously for marina. The effort is patterned in part by programs developed in other states along the west coast. Harbors in Alaska were concerned that approaches developed in other regions would not be appropriate in our northern climate.

The Alaska Clean Harbors Program is focused on two broad areas of concern; harbor design, and harbor and boat operations. The guidebook provides harbormasters and boaters with information about current best management practices and checklists that can be used by a harbor manager to audit the performance of a facility. Ultimately the program will recognize facilities through a formal clean harbor designation.

Designation of Harbor site and Harbor design – The initial design of a harbor can make a huge difference in how friendly it is to the aquatic environment and how well it supports its users. It is much easier for a boater to do the right thing for the environment when adequate infrastructure has been put into place. Design topics can include circulation patterns, wildlife habitat protection, stabilization of shorelines, properly equipped fueling stations, and proper sanitation facilities.

Harbor and Boat Operations and Maintenance – Maintenance activities generate an amazing amount of hazardous wastes. In a harbor, boaters need to be provided with proper and adequate reception facilities to handle used oil, old anti-freeze, sewage, solid wastes, and oily bilge water. Installation of upland washdown stations make hull maintenance easier, contains toxic bottom paint coming off the hull, and filters dirty water before it can reenter the harbor.

And…

There are many things that can fall into a conversation about clean boating.  Topics that are not covered here but should be considered are: fueling, bilge care, engine care, bottom painting and more. Don’t let it be overwhelming. Clean boating is more of an attitude, than an imposition of a fixed set of rules. Being a responsible boater comes through learning and asking questions. Other boaters, boatyard operators and harbormasters are great sources of information, if you ask.

Boaters truly have a vested interest in preserving the marine environment. Taking responsibility now ensures the likelihood of boating access into the future. Simply defined, clean boating means that you have some concern for what you’re leaving in your wake.

Additional Online Resources

Alaska Coasts & Seas – Clean Boating published by the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program – University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Clean Boating for Alaskans [ISBN: 978-1-56612-150-7] published by the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program – University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Alaska Clean Harbors Certification Program – Nuka Research.

Harbors located along the Pacific Coast should monitor and plan for the effects of earthquakes and their often related tsunami. One source of timely information is the Alaska Earthquake Information Center (AEIC). The Alaska Legislature established the AEIC by statute in 1986. Home of the second greatest earthquake recorded in 1964 and the most seismically active state in the Union, Alaska has a selfish interest in monitoring earthquake activity within the state.

Alaska Earthquake Information Center (AEIC)

The Alaska Earthquake Information Center acts as a hub that receives data from hundreds of seismic sites located throughout Alaska. Additionally AEIC processes data received from the West Coast and Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska. Staff at AEIC records the location and intensity of roughly 22,000 earthquakes each year. Data recorded by AEIC adds in making public warnings of earthquakes and is used to further research in the field.

Earthquakes in Alaska

Earthquakes result from the impact of great tectonic plates spread across the earth against each other. The plates can slide along each other or one plate can override another. Alaska is located along the northern portion of the Ring of Fire, a circularly shaped line of volcanic and earthquake activity. In Alaska is in a part of Ring composed of the North American Plate colliding with the Pacific Plate and the northwest moving Pacific Plate being subducted under the arc of the Aleutian Islands. The Aleutian Megathrust found under the island chain is the cause of large magnitude earthquakes in Alaska.

Earthquake Preparedness

Many organizations joined AEIC to prepare an informational booklet on how respond and prepare for an earthquake. Are you prepared for the next big EarthQuake in Alaska is available as a PDF download.

Some suggestions for during and after an earthquake –

• If you are inside, take cover under a study desk or table and stay away from windows and heavy objects like refrigerators. If you are outside, get to an open area away from buildings and powerlines. If you are near the coast, move to higher ground and much further inland
• Avoid the use of open flame sources like matches or lanterns after an earthquake until you are sure there are no propane, fuel oil or natural gas leaks. Use a flashlight
• Designate a contact located out of state to relay information about you and your family. Think about you would contact family members after an earthquake occurs
• Prepare a cache of emergency supplies. Having things like a flashlight, radio, first-aid kit, warm clothes and the like in one accessible location will pay great dividends in an emergency
• Secure things like hot water heaters, bookshelves and fuel tanks to prevent them from falling during an earthquake

The Alaska Earthquake Information Center is a great resource for information on current earthquake activity, provides data on historic earthquakes, and is a rich source of practical knowledge on earthquake response and preparedness.

In October of 2006, prolonged precipitation accompanied by unseasonably warm conditions in the mountains caused the early snow to melt all at once. During a two day period, ten inches of rain fell, with more than six inches falling within one day. Residents of Valdez were cutoff from the outside world for ten days while road crews worked tirelessly to repair the Richardson Highway.

2006 Valdez Alaska Flood

Several organizations have come together to keep Alaska’s boat harbors clean and protect the environment. The Alaska Clean Harbors Certification Program offers guidance to harbormasters and marina managers on how to operate their mooring facilities in an eco-friendly way.

Natural resource agencies in Alaska have historically focused on preventing major pollution and oil spill incidents. Those of us working on the waterfront know that there are many smaller pollution incidents occurring in our harbors everyday. The Alaska Clean Harbors Guidebook was developed to provide harbormasters with information on best management practices and provides the framework for harbors interested in participating in a clean harbor certification program.

The Alaska certification effort took the best features of clean marina programs found elsewhere in the country and customized them to specific conditions found in Alaska. Harbors interested in becoming certified by the program need to look at the measures they take to deal with solid wastes, liquid wastes, hazardous materials, petroleum products, vessel maintenance, sewage, vessel operations and facility management.

Becoming an Alaska Clean Harbor has benefits for the host facility. Being environmentally proactive improves a harbor’s relationship with natural resource management agencies. A certified clean harbor is authorized to fly a special flag, advertise this status in its publications and use this certification to promote their facility. These are the steps needed to become a Alaska Clean Harbor:

1. Download a copy of the Alaska Clean Harbors Guidebook and become familiar with the program.
2. Sign the Alaska Clean Harbor Pledge for your harbor demonstrating your commitment to the program.
3. Using the Alaska Clean Harbor Best Management Practices Checklist, conduct a self-inspection and assessment of your harbor.
4. Determine your facility’s overall score and contact the Alaska Clean Harbors Program to schedule a site visit.

Harbormasters have an interest in keeping their harbors clean. Being proactive preserves our water based access to natural resources going into the future. Contact Pacific Harbor Advisors for assistance in achieving your Alaska Clean Harbor Certification.

Michael Fisher with Northern Economics is very involved with the Alaska Harbor Economic Impact Model (HEIM) project. HEIM has funded by the Alaska Department of Transportation and supported by the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators. The model uses a graphical interface and based in Microsoft Excel.

HEIM is available free of charge. Get the model and related materials on the HEIM download page. Northern Economics will help you develop accurate results with the model at a reasonable cost. Information developed by using HEIM is invaluable in funding discussions of marina maintenance and harbor expansion projects. Funding harbors greatly benefits our entire state.

Using the model can answer several questions.

What is the value of your harbor?
What is the value of adding a slip?
What is overall economic impact of your facility?

Michael has setup an email list for people interested in news concerning HEIM. You can signup on the HEIM website. A frequently asked questions pages is available as reference. We have used the model in Valdez and the results are astounding. The direct, indirect and induced impacts of a new harbor we are planning are shown below. You can see the immediate benefits of the project for the State and community.

Download the model and give it a try. Results are statistically valid for most of Alaska. Northern Economics would work at a competitive cost with other States interested in developing a similar project.

It turned out that the timing of my book Northern Harbors and Small Ports: Operations and Maintenance coincided well with a Title III grant that UAS received to develop distance education programs with industry. UAS asked if it could used as the text for the proposed training program. While the particulars are not quite firm, we are off and running with the program, Two other harbor associations are likely joining forces with the certification effort. They are the Alaska Association of Harbormaster and Port Administrators (AAHPA) and the Harbor Authorizes Association of British Columbia (HAABC). In addition to these two groups, it looks like we may be able to partner with the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Small Craft Harbours who actively work with Canadian Port Authorities. Alaska Sea Grant (ASG) has joined in support and is allowing us to utilize their extensive book store offerings as part of the course curriculum.

The on-line portion of the program will involve about eight or more modules that I will describe in more detail below. Once a student finishes a yet to be determined number of modules, they will receive a certificate of completion from UAS. After a student has completed a year’s work at a member harbor of the AAHPA, PPC or HAABC, member cooperating members will issue a certificate of qualification an a certified harbor/marina employee. There is a chance we will be able to develop some On-The-Job training standards as well. These could be things like pump operation or use of fire extinguishers. We picture this qualification as a basic requirement for advancement within a member harbor and transferable between marinas. Each member has the advantage of fully knowing what the training comprises and how it applies to their facilities.

Working with UAS, Eric Olsson and I anticipate completing the first two modules in Facility Safety and Hazardous Material by the end of July 2006. We will begin beta testing soon after that and hope to have some preliminary results to present to the PCC, AAHPA and HAABC groups at their fall meetings. The modules use Macromedia Breeze, PowerPoint, HTML, video and a number of reference documents to support the material being presented.

If you would like to know more about the project, feel free to contact me.

Introduction – General overview of harbor operations and management. Completion of module will provide a roadmap to the student describing the training and certification program. Elements briefly covered will include:

• Management – Daily Operations
• Administration – Staff Positions
• Budget Process
• Regulatory Environment
• Maintenance
• Harbor Operations
• Employment Opportunities
• Harbor Trade Organizations (AAHPA, PCC, SG, AMI, ABBRA)

Resource Materials: Northern Harbors and Small Ports available from Alaska Sea Grant

Operations and Maintenance Planning – Harbor operation depends on good planning. Module will cover planning tools and documents that can be utilized by a harbor. These include:

• Marina/Harbor Operations Manual
• Facility Policies and Procedures Document
• Customer Documents and Forms
• Resource Library
• Facility Inspections
• Harbor Economics

Resource Materials: Harbor Economic Impact Model and user’s guide available on-line at http://www.harbormodel.info

Harbor Administration – Harbors for the most part are independent businesses operating within the overarching governmental structure of their community. Good business management will provide the resources a harbor needs for it successful operations. Module topics will include:

• Marina Business Management Software Programs.
• Administrative Staffing and Job Descriptions
• Governmental Relations
• Office Management Practices
• Vessel Mooring Practices
• Risk Management
• Customer Service and Conflict Resolution
• Administration of ordinances, regulations, policies and procedures
• Advertising and Promotion

Fire Safety – Harbors combine a large number of high value vessels in close contact with each other and a number of flammable substances gas and diesel fuel. This module will cover elements of fire safety training and planning. Elements will include:

• Fire Safety Training
• Fire Safety Plan
• National Fire Protection Association Standard 303
• Fire Fighting Equipment

Resource Materials: NFPA 303 available from NFPA

Facility Safety – Harbor facilities need to be monitored to ensure they are in good condition. This focus on safety impacts both your customers and employees. Finding a problem early can prevent much greater issues in the future. Module elements will include:

• Electrical Power Systems
• Floating Dock Freeboard
• Water Rescue Equipment
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Kid’s Don’t Float
• Housekeeping
• Slips, Trips and Falls
• Lighting
• Marine Mammals (This may be considered as a separate module)
• Earthquakes and Tsunami
• Risk Management Practices
• Boating Safety

Resource Materials: Ocean Fury, Alaska Water Wise and Responsible Marine Wildlife Viewing in Alaska available from Alaska Sea Grant.

Hazardous and Other Materials – The future viability of harbors and marinas will depend on developing good environmental stewardship practices. Harbors also need to comply with numerous Federal and State regulations. Industry has developed the concept of Best Management Practices that provide good guidelines for the prevention of boating related pollution. Module elements will include:

• Best Management Practices for Harbors
• Used Oil Collection
• Solid and Liquid Waste Materials
• Fishing line, fishing nets and plastics
• Hull scrapings and sanding products
• Scrap materials generated by vessel repairs
• Contaminated fuel or water
• Liquid and aerosol paints
• Lead-acid batteries
• Fish waste
• Trash and garage
• Hazardous Material Training
• Federal Laws and Regulations
• International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
• Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
• Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990 (CZARA)
• Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA)
• Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA)
• Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)
• Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act (MPPRCA)
• Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act Title I (MPRSA)
• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
• Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA90)

Resource Materials: Hazardous Materials On Board available from Alaska Sea Grant.

Marine Structures – Effective operation and maintenance of a harbor is dependent on employees having a solid understanding of the marine infrastructure installed at their workplace. Module elements cover major marine structures found in a harbor or small port.

• Mooring Docks
• Wood floating docks
• Concrete floating docks
• Fixed docks
• Anchor Piling
• Tidal Grids
• Launch Ramps
• Breakwaters
• Rubble-mound
• Permeable wave barriers
• Floating Fish Cleaning Stations
• Gangways

Marine Construction Materials – Marine structures are built out of materials that are designed to withstand use in a severe climate. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages inherent in using each material will help harbor employees make good choices in their maintenance activities. Materials described in the module include:

• Wood
• Wood damaging organisms
• Wood damage by nonliving agents
• Decay prevention
• Inspection for decay
• Maintenance and repair of wood structures
• Steel
• Corrosion
• Inspection of steel structures
• Galvanic series of metals
• Concrete
• Maintenance and repair of concrete structures
• Foam Floatation

Resource Materials: Marine Wood Maintenance Manual: A Guide for Proper Use of Douglas Fir available from Oregon Sea Grant

Dockside Cranes and Straddle Hoists – Harbors and small ports commonly use boat lifts and dock mounted cranes. Safe use of this equipment depends on good maintenance and safety practices. The following topics will be covered in this module:

• Dockside Cranes
• Crane inspections
• Crane access controls
• Crane operator training
• Marine Straddle Hoists

Resource Materials: CD based crane operator training available from ARXCIS.

Potable Water Systems – Delivery of safe drinking water is an important function of most mooring facilities. There are a number of maintenance concerns that harbor employees should take into account at their facility.
Electrical Systems – Harbor electrical systems represent major investments by the community and can cause serious injury or death is not properly maintained. Elements of this module will include:

• Common Electrical Distribution Systems
• Harbor Electrolysis and Corrosion
• National Fire Prevention Association Standard 303
• Lighting Systems

Resource Materials: NFPA 303 available from NFPA and Harbor Electrical Guidelines for Maintenance and Operations available from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

Future Developments in Harbor Operations – What does the future hold for employees and operators of small boat harbors? This module will present information on future developments and reinforce the harbor employee certification program being sponsored by UAS, PCC and AAHPA. Ideas include:

• Harbor Maintenance Management Software
• Harbor Employee Training – This program is a major step forward.
• Port and Facility Security
• Responsible Harbor Users Handbook
• Harbor and Port Visual Glossary

Resource Materials: 33 CFR Part 101 to 106 available from the United States Coast Guard.

Harbors are attractive to wildlife and those who enjoy watching that wildlife. Alaskan harbors often have protected animals like marine mammals call their facilities home. Marine mammals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA). The act prohibits harassment of marine mammals and defines this as any action that causes disruption in the animal’s normal behavior.

It is important to educate harbor users of the dangers and problems associated with feeding sea lions. Feeding a sea lion could encourage it to take up permanent residence on the harbor docks. Since it is illegal to touch or harass a sea lion, boaters that feed them could lose access to their boat slips when the sea lion decides to haulout on the boat dock. Feeding can disrupt normal feeding patterns and habituate animals to human contact. Habituated animals have a much greater chance of being struck by boats or being aggressive towards people on the docks, while anticipating the source of their next meal. There was a man in Western Alaska feeding and teasing a sea lion and had some herring in his back pocket. You should be able to correctly guess what happened next!

There are times were you may be concerned about an injured or abandoned marine mammal. Avoid touching or approaching the animal. Contact the Alaska Sealife Center at 1-888-774-SEAL to talk with representatives of the Rescue and Rehabilitation Program staff. The Sealife Center staff will ask you about the physical condition of the animal, if there are signs of injury and will ask you to provide digital photos of the animal and immediate area around it. You will be instructed on what to expect next and the actions that need to be taken.

Fuel and petroleum can cause major problems for wildlife and the marine environment. Federal and State law is very strict concerning the discharge of oil or fuel into the water. The penalties and cleanup costs can be severe.

It is a very good idea to have an idea of how much fuel your boat carries and burns through normal use. This information will help you to anticipate when to stop filling.

• Consider installing an air-fuel separator or whistle on your vessel’s fuel tank vent line. Both devices will help provide a warning when the boat is nearly full. Most fuel docks routinely provide an adsorbent pad to place around the fueling nozzle while it is being used. If the fuel dock doesn’t provide a pad for your use, encourage them to do so and make sure you have your own on hand. Never use soap or detergent on inadvertent fuel spills; they only sink the fuel into the water column were it will have prolonged contact with wildlife. It is much better to let it evaporate.

Portable tanks should be filled at upland facilities or at least out of the boat. Spills are much easier to cleanup onshore and away from the water. It is also safer to fill portable fuel tanks that are placed on the ground. This helps reduce the buildup of static electricity and the chance of causing a spark.

Before Fueling

• Stop all engines and auxiliaries.
• Shut off all electricity, open flames, and heat sources.
• Check bilges for fuel vapors.
• Extinguish all smoking materials.
• Close access fittings and openings that could allow fuel vapors to enter the boat’s enclosed spaces.
• Remove all personnel from the boat except the person handling the fueling hose.

During Fueling

• Maintain nozzle contact with fill pipe.
• Fuel filling nozzle must be attended at all times.
• Wipe up spills immediately.
• Avoid overfilling.
• Marine fuel nozzles may not automatically shut-off like an automotive fuel nozzle does.
• Air trapped in fill lines, blowback and fuel tank sloshing due to boat wakes can cause fuel to be spilled.

After Fueling and Before Starting Engine

• Inspect bilges for leakage or fuel odors.
• Ventilate until odors are removed.