Coast Guard to study offshore boat traffic, wind farms -- provide input by 1/31/12

[Bene505]

From this link --> BoatingIndustry.com : Coast Guard to study offshore boat traffic, wind farms

Regards,
Brad

Coast Guard to study offshore boat traffic, wind farms

December 29, 2011
Filed under News


PORTSMOUTH, Va. – The U.S. Coast Guard will be expanding studies of port traffic along the Atlantic coast to include all government, commercial and recreational boat traffic from Maine to Florida, according to Hamptonroads.com.

The Coast Guard will be studying boat traffic on a large scale level to determine if new international agreements or vessel-routing measures in areas where wind farms may be erected are necessary.

While carrying out the studies, the Coast Guard is seeking input from maritime industries and recreational boaters who operate within 200 nautical miles of the East Coast. The Coast Guard is accepting input through Jan. 31.

Some of the questions that the Coast Guard is seeking public and commercial input on include: do you regularly transit coastal waters in a recreational yacht? If yes, how far offshore is your typical route? What are the pros and cons to the Coast Guard designating traffic routes? Should there be separate lanes for different types of vessels and for vessels traveling in opposite directions? Should their use be mandatory?

To read the full article, visit Coast Guard to study future of boat traffic, wind farms – hamptonroads.com.

[BubbleheadMd]

This is cool, thanks for posting it.

[Minnewaska]

As you know, there are a couple of these proposed projects out our way. Honestly, I don't find them likely to become much of a hazard to navigation. Its a big ocean. Although, I do expect they will be magnets for recreational boaters to intentionally sail close by to gawk. I wonder if they will forbid passage nearby, which we would then have to pay to police.

My problem with the wind farms is they are a complete waste of taxpayer's money. The people building them are making a fortune, but only due to government subsidies from the rest of us. Same with ethanol. The production plants make huge profit, however, the subsidy is often higher than their profits in most cases. The core operations lose money without the taxpayers. These make no economic sense and are actually limiting our resources to find real energy solutions.

There, down from my soapbox.

[Bene505]

Originally Posted by Minnewaska

As you know, there are a couple of these proposed projects out our way. Honestly, I don't find them likely to become much of a hazard to navigation. Its a big ocean. Although, I do expect they will be magnets for recreational boaters to intentionally sail close by to gawk. I wonder if they will forbid passage nearby, which we would then have to pay to police.

My problem with the wind farms is they are a complete waste of taxpayer's money. The people building them are making a fortune, but only due to government subsidies from the rest of us. Same with ethanol. The production plants make huge profit, however, the subsidy is often higher than their profits in most cases. The core operations lose money without the taxpayers. These make no economic sense and are actually limiting our resources to find real energy solutions.

There, down from my soapbox.

Good points. I was thinking about the navigation aspects, not the economic.

IMHO, I don't need something else I could bump into.

Regards,
Brad

[DoubleEnder]

Should there be separate lanes for different types of vessels and for vessels traveling in opposite directions? Should their use be mandatory?

I don't know about you but this scares the hell out of me. Sailboats use this lane. WTF