The Coast Guard on Anchorages in the Hudson

There is news about the commercial ship anchorages proposed last year for the Hudson River. The proposal was for forty-three berths in ten locations between Yonkers and Kingston. Today, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that it will conduct a Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment (PAWSA) of the Hudson River. The news release from the Coast Guard explains: "The PAWSA process is a disciplined approach to identify major waterway safety hazards, estimate risk levels, evaluate potential mitigation measures, and set the stage for implementation of selected measures to reduce risk."

The news release continues: "In the fall, a group of waterway users and stakeholders will conduct a two-day structured workshop to meet these objectives and ensure the PAWSA process is a joint effort involving waterway users, stakeholders, and agencies to determine the safety of the waterway."

Reacting to the announcement from the Coast Guard, Assemblymember Didi Barrett made this statement:

Today’s announcement by the Coast Guard is terrific news for the Hudson River and the countless community members, businesses, organizations, and elected officials--of both parties--who opposed the anchorages proposal. It brings welcome relief from the threat of increased petroleum traffic and potential oil spills that new anchorage grounds would inevitably bring.

My office has spoken out against this plan since it was first introduced, and I’m proud of our recently passed legislation that increases the state’s capacity to protect communities and natural habitats along the Hudson River. Often referred to as America’s River, the Hudson is the lifeline of our region: It connects us economically, culturally, and historically. We remain committed to fighting for a healthy, safe, and vital Hudson River, today and for future generations.

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