Islanders rally for fire victim

Following the collapse of a section of the Eastport breakwater on December 4, a new location for fishermen to get to their boats will be set up at Broad Cove, but with their boats on moorings and not berthed at floats. Also, boat owners who are able to obtain insurance for their vessels with a "hold harmless" provision will be allowed to keep their vessels at the breakwater's inner basin, perhaps until the end of the scallop season, which is scheduled to extend until April 7 if it is not shut down early by the state.
The decisions were made at a special meeting of the Eastport Port Authority board and the harbor committee on January 5. Previously, the board had been considering a proposal from the Cianbro Corporation to supply spud barges for a float system for tying up boats at Broad Cove. The cost, though, which was provided on January 5, would be either $271,560 to lease the barges for two years or $365,240 to purchase them. At the meeting, Port Director Chris Gardner noted that the city plans to apply for Community Development Block Grant funds to help with the breakwater repair and some of that money could be used to pay for the Cianbro barges. But he noted that there then would be less funding for the breakwater, and the Cianbro proposal does not include installation, delivery or insurance.
The port authority board instead decided to lease for a dollar the port authority's equipment to area fishermen so they could set up at Broad Cove a ramp and floats for dinghies that can be used to get to their fishing boats that will be moored in the cove. With a two-week break in the scallop season beginning on January 8, fishermen thought they could have it set up before the season starts again on January 26.
Fisherman Earl Small reported that the Department of Marine Resources plans to keep the Cobscook Bay season open for a minimum of two weeks after it reopens, which would take it to February 4. Any closures will depend on biomass surveys and reports from fishermen and the Marine Patrol.
Concerning the removal of boats from the inner basin of the breakwater, Gardner noted that some boats still have not moved, even though the engineering firm for the rebuilding of the breakwater stated on December 6 that it could not assure the stability of the 1962 pier and the port authority's insurance company wanted the breakwater closed immediately. Later that month the port authority then removed the ramp to the inner basin finger piers, which upset some fishermen who had boats there. Gardner stated, "We are out of options," noting that the port authority is risking having its insurance package cancelled if the boats are not removed.
In order to be able to keep their boats in the inner basin, fishermen have asked if they could sign a hold harmless agreement, so that if their boats suffer any damage no claims would be brought against the port authority. The port authority's law firm has drawn up such an agreement, but Gardner noted that the boat owners will have to provide proof of sufficient insurance, including pollution insurance if their boat sinks. They will need a minimum of indemnity insurance of $400,000 for boats under 50 feet and of $1 million for boats over 50 feet. Gardner noted that any claim of damage to a boat could bankrupt the port authority.
The port authority agreed to give fishermen until the end of the day on Thursday, January 8, to provide such proof of insurance. One fishermen was already able to obtain the insurance the day after the meeting. If other boat owners are able to obtain the insurance and sign the hold harmless agreement, up to 14 vessels could be berthed in the inner basin. Any boats without insurance that tie up at the breakwater will be removed immediately. Gardner noted that once construction of the new breakwater begins, possibly in March or April, any remaining boats would have to be removed.
Fisherman Butch Harris predicted that most boats will get hauled out of the water once scallop season ends.
In a third issue considered by the two boards, Gardner advised against accepting berthing fees for next year, noting that a lawsuit could result from just one fishermen saying that the port authority had cashed his check and did not provide berthing. The port authority, though, might collect fees for use of the crane on the fish pier.
The harbor committee then voted to rescind its previous recommendation to accept payment from boat owners for berthing for 2015, and the port authority board agreed with the action. The port authority will send a letter to boat owners explaining that the pier is deemed unsafe and uninsurable and that the port authority cannot accept payment as it cannot offer any berthing facilities. The letter also notes that any boat owner who currently has a berth will have one when the breakwater reopens, perhaps in two years.