Ceremony Celebrates Opening of Rodgers Tavern Pier and Floating Dock

     Perryville, Md. -- Local officials and residents from Perryville, Port Deposit and Havre de Grace came out to show their excitement and support for the official opening of the Rodgers Tavern pier and floating dock at a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 1.

      “This project will greatly enhance water access, recreation, heritage, tourism and hopefully be the impetus for economic development of the town’s waterfront as well as the revitalization of the old downtown area,” said Town Commissioner Barbara A. Brown. “I am extremely happy that everyone who has worked with the town to make this project happen will see their efforts pay off. It will truly be an asset for Perryville.”

     The pier and floating boat slips provide access to the Susquehanna River and are a short walk to the Historic Rodgers Tavern and the Town of Perryville. Perryville is one of three towns along with Havre de Grace and Port Deposit that will benefit from this boating access site that links the towns to each other and to the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Trail. The new pier and floating dock not only provide a significant amenity to the boating public, but will also provide economic stimulus to local businesses. The mayor and Commissioners of Perryville have long supported this project.

The site features:
A 515-foot by 10-foot fully-lit walking pier
A 60-foot by 10-foot bridge
An 80-foot by 6-foot walkway
A 122-foot long floating pier with electrical service that includes 12 transient boat slips with an 86-foot T-head floating pier that provides dockage for large vessels.

     “We view this project as an enhancement to the Lower Susquehanna River trail system, an economic stimulus through increased tourism, and additional water access for this riverfront community,” said Perryville Mayor James L. Eberhardt.

     The Rodgers Tavern pier and floating dock are located behind Rodgers Tavern at 259 Broad Street, Perryville in Cecil County. The project, completed on March 30, was a joint venture with funding from the following sources: $1,159,901 from a Federal Grant to the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Trail, $478,379 from the Town of Perryville, and $554,950 from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Waterway Improvement Fund, which includes $154,950 in 100 percent grants and $400,000 in matching 50/50 grants. Revenue for the fund comes from the one-time, 5 percent excise tax, paid when a boat is purchased and titled in Maryland.

Maryland Governor Signs Laws to Improve Fishery Management

     Annapolis, Md. -- Governor Martin O’Malley has signed into law several pieces of legislation to improve enforcement of our natural resource laws and further sustainable fisheries management and aquaculture businesses. The bills were supported by watermen groups, recreational fishing groups and environmental organizations.
     “Legislation signed by Governor O’Malley today sends a strong message about our mission to protect Maryland’s valued natural resources,” said Secretary John Griffin. “By adjusting our commercial fishing license structure, we are providing more flexibility to our watermen, while increasing individual accountability. Also, by expediting and expanding aquaculture permits and creating new free recreational fishing areas, we will expand opportunities for industry and recreational users.”
     “HB 1372 is a perfect example of the achievements that can be made when the Department of Natural Resources and the commercial fishing industry work together in a spirit of cooperation for the benefit of a sustainable fishery,” said Gibby Dean of the Chesapeake Bay Commercial Fisherman’s Association.
     Reflecting historical agreement to increase business flexibility and accountability in Maryland’s commercial fishing industry, House Bill 1372 removes some commercial fishing license transfer restrictions, while increasing the accountability on those transfers. Additionally, by providing billing authority to the Department for an individual harvester’s use of fish tags and the new hailing (call-in) system, the legislation will enable the Natural Resources Police to more effectively monitor daily fish harvest as well as begin to address cost recovery concerns.
     “This was a very comprehensive bill with very complicated and challenging issues regarding licenses, transfers, fees and so on. We are pleased that we now can work with the DNR’s staff through the summer so that the commercial fishing industry has time to further nail down the details,” said Larry Simns, Maryland Watermen’s Association President. “The watermen thank Secretary Griffin, DNR’s staff and members of the legislature for their support on this major piece of legislation for us.”
     “We applaud Governor O’Malley, Secretary Griffin and the entire Department of Natural Resources team for their efforts to improve the manageability, accountability and enforceability of Maryland’s fisheries,” said Tony Friedrich, executive director for Coastal Conservation Association Maryland. “We believe this legislation provides the necessary legal foundation to ensure that funds will be available and allocated in a manner that allows for the responsible stewardship of our shared fish, crabs and oysters.”
     House Bill 1306 expedites the shellfish aquaculture lease application process, allows for development of a process that could expand shellfish sales and market opportunities, and provides for the establishment of comparable application costs and lease rent for all shellfish leaseholders.
     “The provisions contained in HB 1306 are important in Governor O’Malley’s continuing efforts to establish Maryland as a leader in shellfish aquaculture production,” said Don Webster, vice-chairman of the Maryland Aquaculture Coordinating Council. “We are already seeing increases in economic activity and employment with benefits for the environment through the strong partnership that exists for this industry between our Governor and the Maryland General Assembly.”
     “This year’s passing of House Bill 1306 is one more step in the right direction toward developing a new and exciting oyster industry in Maryland,” said Johnny Shockley, vice president of Hooper’s Island Oyster Aquaculture. “The bill will allow for an expedited application process for leased bottom and water column processes and reduce the number of restrictions on off bottom culturist. Most importantly, this bill will allow oyster growers to market their product at less than 3 inches within the very lucrative half-shell markets and level the playing field with other states along the east coast. With growers, DNR and Maryland lawmakers working together, we can once again establish Maryland as a leader in oyster production.”
     House Bill 1305 will allow the Department to create free fishing areas in tidal and nontidal waters of the State where a person may catch finfish for recreational purposes without the otherwise required licenses or authorizations.

Chestertown Tea Party Scheduled for May 26

     Chestertown, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the annual Reenactment portion of the Chestertown Tea Party Festival is scheduled to occur along the Chester River on Saturday, May 26, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

     The key component of the event includes the movements and anchorage of the Schooner SULTANA off Chestertown, Maryland. As described in 33 CFR Section 100.501, special local regulations establish a regulated area, approximately 350 yards in length and 150 yards in width, on all waters of the Chester River, within a line connecting the following positions: latitude 39°12’27” N, longitude 076°03’46” W; thence to latitude 39°12’19” N, longitude 076°03’53” W; thence to latitude 39°12’25” N, longitude 076°03’41” W; thence to latitude 39°12’16” N, longitude 076°03’48” W; thence to the point of origin at latitude 39°12’27” N, longitude 076°03’46” W.

     This area will be enforced from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 26. Except for persons or vessels authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander, no person or vessel may enter or remain in the regulated area. The operator of any vessel in the regulated area must stop the vessel immediately when directed to do so by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol and proceed as directed by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol. Coast Guard vessels enforcing this regulated area can be contacted on marine band radio VHF-FM channel 16 or 22A.

     For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Chart 12272.

MarineMax Gunpowder Cove Earns Clean Marina Status

     Joppa, Md. -- MarineMax, the largest boat dealer network in America, has earned the Maryland Clean Marina award for their Joppa location.

     “By working with our service department and our customers, we now have all areas of the marina involved in the Clean Marina process,” said Manager Jennifer Keller. “We’ve gotten a lot of support from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff, which made the process pretty simple.”

     To meet award criteria, MarineMax Gunpowder Cove purchased a fuel spill response kit, educated their customers and outside contractors on green practices and implemented a recycling program for cans, bottles and shrink wrap.

     MarineMax Gunpowder Cove is Maryland’s largest Sea Ray Boat dealer and also serves as a service center. This full-service boating facility stores hundreds of boats both on and off the water, offers a marine sewage pumpout and sells fuel. The area also features play and picnic areas for marina customers and guests.

     This is the 122nd certified Maryland Clean Marina. There are a total of 147 certified facilities in Maryland, including 25 smaller Clean Marina partners. DNR oversees the Clean Marina Initiative, a voluntary program that promotes and celebrates efforts of marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs to reduce their pollution.

     Each of the 147 certified facilities has adopted a significant portion of recommendations in the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook and passed a rigorous site inspection. Certifications are good for three years, at which time DNR staff re-inspects the marinas. Marinas and boatyards of any size can participate.

     More information and free program materials are available by calling 410-260-8773 or visiting dnr.maryland.gov/boating/cleanmarina.

Tall Ships, Visiting Vessels Coming to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

     St. Michaels, Md. -- The St. Michaels harbor will transform to an image of days gone by with several tall ships and visiting vessels docking at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) beginning this May and continuing throughout the month of June.

      From May 5-12, the schooner Sultana will be dockside at the museum, and open for boarding to all CBMM visitors from 2:30 to 4:30 pm on Tuesday, May 8. The schooner Sultana is a replica of a Boston-built merchant vessel that served for four years as the smallest schooner ever in the British Royal Navy. Using the British Admiralty’s documentation of the original Sultana, she has been recreated to offer a glimpse of 18th-century seafaring life. Launched in 2001 at her base port of Chestertown, MD, Sultana provides educational programs for more than 5,000 students each year.

     From June 4-7, the schooner Wolf comes to the CBMM, with free dockside tours offered from 1 to 3pm each day. The Wolf is a classic 74' topsail schooner built in the early 1980s in Panama City, FL and now home ported in Key West, FL. The Wolf sails the seven seas representing Key West and the Conch Republic, and is available for charters in Florida, Bahamas, Jamaica and other ports in the Caribbean and US.

     From June 15-17, the replica tall ship HMS Bounty will be harbor side at CBMM, offering tours to CBMM and Antique & Classic Boat Festival visitors at $10 for adults, $5 for children, and free for children five and under. A replica of the tall ship known for the infamous 1789 mutiny in Tahiti, the current HMS Bounty was built in 1960 for the movie, “Mutiny on the Bounty,” and was later featured in “Treasure Island” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.” Now touring the U.S. East Coast after a European tour, the tall ship offers dockside tours, sail training and youth educational programs.

     On June 22 and 23, the Pride of Baltimore II will be dockside at CBMM, with tours available to museum visitors. An 1812-era topsail schooner privateer reproduction, Pride of Baltimore II is Maryland’s working symbol of the great natural resources and spectacular beauty of the Chesapeake Bay region. Pride of Baltimore II was commissioned in 1988 as a sailing memorial to her immediate predecessor, the original Pride of Baltimore, which was sunk by a white squall off Puerto Rico in 1986. Both ships were built in the Inner Harbor as reproductions of 1812-era topsail schooners, the type of vessels, called Baltimore Clippers, which helped America win the War of 1812 and finally secure its freedom.

     From June 22-24, the Viking ship Norseman will be at the museum offering a real-life look at a Viking ship and the type of people who sailed them more than 1,000 years ago. Norseman is a 40-foot half-scale replica of the famous Gokstad ship that represents one of the many types of sailing vessels built and designed by Vikings. The Norseman's crew will wear authentic Viking attire at a small encampment, which will be complete with iron and woodworking tools, and period music. The ship is based in Wilmington, DE at the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard.

      For more information about other upcoming events at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, visit www.cbmm.org, or call 410-745-2916.

Aerial Wire Performance May 9 at Baltimore's Inner Harbor

     Baltimore, Md. -- Mariners are advised that Ripley Entertainment Inc. will sponsor a “high-wire” solo walk over a portion of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor on Wednesday, May 9, scheduled to occur at noon. The angle of the wire will be rigged on an incline, between the Light Street Pavilion and the top of a crane mounted on a barge located near Inner Harbor Pier 1, Baltimore. The walk is expected to last approximately 15 minutes and the performer will be accompanied and supported by sponsor-provided watercraft. For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Chart 12281.

Coast Guard to Restrict Vessel Traffic on Spa Creek on May 12

     Annapolis, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the swim segment of the “TriRock Triathlon Series” is scheduled to occur in Spa Creek and Annapolis Harbor on Saturday, May 12,  from 6:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Up to 300 swimmers will operate on a 500-meter course located between the Annapolis City Dock and the confluence of the Spa Creek with the Severn River. The start and finish will be located  at the Annapolis City Dock. A portion of the swim course will impede the federal navigation channel.

     Coast Guard special local regulations establish a regulated area for all waters of Spa Creek and Annapolis Harbor, within lines connecting the following positions: from position latitude 38°58’34” N, longitude 076°29’05” W, thence to position latitude 38°58’27” N, longitude 076°28’55” W, and from position latitude 38°58’40” N, longitude 076°28’49” W to position latitude 38°58’32” N, longitude 076°28’45” W. The regulated area will be enforced from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. on May 12. The effect will be to restrict vessel traffic on certain waters of the Spa Creek and Annapolis Harbor.

     The Coast Guard Patrol Commander may forbid and control the movement of all vessels in the regulated area. Coast Guard vessels enforcing this regulated area can be contacted on marine band radio VHF-FM channel 16 or 22A. When hailed or signaled by an official patrol vessel, a vessel in the area shall immediately comply with the directions given. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the area, citation for failure to comply, or both. Mariners are urged to schedule their transits on this waterway beyond the enforcement times. 

     The swimmers will be supported by sponsor-provided watercraft. For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Charts 12282, 12283.