Monterey Bay Marina Boat Fire

Firefighters battle boat fire in Monterey harbor

 

"The gentleman was working on his boat and there was water and a battery that he was lifting out of the bilge area and it caused an arc that caused the fumes to catch on fire," said Monterey Fire Division Chief Jim Brown. 

We were all very fortunate this incident did not kill or seriously injure someone, or expand to a much larger scenario. There was one person who sustained minor burns on his hands and face which is unfortunate. The quick actions by fellow boaters, the harbor staff, Monterey Fire Department, and the USCG contained the affected area. 

Lessons learned: As with all emergencies in the harbor, the Harbor Staff reviews the event, causes, responses, and what can we do in the future both in educating the boaters and the harbor staff to mitigate these situations. As every boater should know gasoline fumes are heavier the air and reside in the bilges if given the opportunity. Ignition sources can come from a variety of machinery and electrical items. Here are a few suggestions for everyone

1) Clean bilges

2) Lines and connections for fuel, coolant, and hydraulics dry and regularly inspected

3) Inspection and ventilated bilges before start up or electrical use.

4) Maintenance completed in accordance with manufacturers instructions

5) Available fire suppression equipment and/or auto fixed systems under deck.

We are thankful for the effort to minimize and contain this fire by everyone involved and hope we can use this incident to review habits and attitudes about boater safety in a serious way.

Thank you, Steve Scheiblauer

Monterey Squid Fishing

Thank you - Thank you - Thank you

Monterey Bay ~ Squid Fishing

The 2014 squid catch was an event of a life time! This years squid catch challenged the memory of local fisherman elders. They had a difficult time remembering a better year for the squid fishery going back to the 1960's. This year more than 1500 jobs were created for local companies during this season. This years catch and subsequent use of the pumping and landing facilities along with the associated track trailers challenged the users of the commercial wharf with parking, transportation, and access. The businesses, fisherman, boaters, and the public worked within a defined amount of space. The limitations of commercial wharf II was challenged to try and be all things to all users on wharf II this year. We wanted to let you know how much we appreciate the wharf II users being patient throughout this busy 2014 season. 

Thank you

 

Green Boating Guidelines

waterways. Boat sewage, graywater, cleaning products, spilled fuel and oil, trash and aquatic invasive species are all potential sources of pollution. Government alone cannot protect California's environment. Every boater must take responsibility for pollution prevention and try to minimize the environmental and public health impacts from boating activities. There are a couple of publications addressing soaps and cleaning solutions worth review. They include methods of how to minimize introduction of chemicals and particulates to surrounding waters. The information is comprehensive and offers boaters several ways to protect vessels and the environment at the same time. 

For additional information on green boating guidelines beyond that contained in this booklet, visit the following Web site:

 Who are we?

 

We are just ordinary fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, son and daughters who eat, live and breathe saltwater fishing and spearfishing. Saltwater fishing is our passion and our calling. Having been in the industry for a while, we have seen the power of developing a solid reliable saltwater fishing network.

 

Real Life Example: We left Waianae small boat harbor around 0645 headed for the inside V. The inside V is a prime fishing spot during tide changes and we were planning to hit the inside V 20 minutes before the tide shift. After fishing the tide shift without success, we changed our course out toward the 1000 fathom line. It was nearing lunch time when I received a radio call from Captain Shannon. Captain Shannon told us that they had just landed two large yellow-fin tuna a little south of the Pinnacle. We picked up our gear and quickly moved to the Pinnacle and started setting out the lines. As we were setting up the final line, 3 of our 5 lines started screaming. A few minutes later two of the lines went slack; 38 minutes later a 207# yellow-fin tuna was put on the deck of the boat. It was my first Ahi...probably one of the best days I have had on the water.
I met Captain Shannon through chartering his boat. While out with Live-Bait Sport fishing we caught a 600 pound blue marlin (Marlin in the gallery). During his charter I asked if he could give me some advice about fishing in Hawaii. He told me to make as many friends as I could and fish the waters as frequently as possible. On that day he became the first friend in my saltwater fishing network.  My friendship with Captain Shannon is the founding principle behind the development of this site...Thanks again Captain Shannon!

What is Reel Salt Finatics?

 

The home of the Internet's Ultimate Saltwater Fishing Social Networking hub. This site is being developed by actual Saltwater fanatics(aka Finatics) for Saltwater fishing and spearfishing fanatics. This site is being developed to consolidate important saltwater fishing data and resources onto a user-friendly platform that allows access in four clicks or less.

 

 

Safe Boating Classes

About Boating Safely

• General information about boats and maintenance
• Information on preparing for safe and enjoyable outings
• Navigation rules and aids to navigation
• Guidelines for operating your boat or PWC safely
• What to do in case of boating emergencies
• State-specific laws and regulations you must follow
• Certificate for successful course completion

In general, this information applies to all recreational watercraft (powerboats, PWCs, sailboats and boats which are paddled). PWC and Jet Ski operators often have additional laws and restrictions which apply to them.

 

JOIN THE U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

 

 

Click this link for more information

Safe Boating Classes

 

Monthly beach cleanups are a fun, free, easy way to give back to your community by keeping pollution from entering the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. It's easy to participate - just meet us at the check-in table where you'll sign a waiver form and receive your cleanup materials and data cards. Volunteers are encouraged to Bring Your Own buckets, gloves, and reusable bags to decrease trash. 

Save Our Shores Today!

Beach cleanups demonstrate how individuals of all ages can protect the marine environment by keeping our coastlines free from harmful pollution and debris.

  

 

 

The inaugural October 4-5 Monterey Beach SportsFest is a two-day festival celebrating the ocean lifestyle on Monterey's Del Monte Beach, nestled between downtown Monterey and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Participants and spectators will be inspired to care for the ocean as they directly connect to it through the athletic events in and adjacent to the sea, and through interaction with the educational and conservation resources available at our two-day "Healthy People, Healthy Oceans" Expo.  

Monterey SportsFest Meeting 2014

The elite athlete, weekend warrior and fitness-minded family all have an event or activity for them, and the ocean water polo, beach volleyball, ocean swims and various other beach activities are all spectator friendly events. It's a public beach, so make it a beach day!

 

Porta Potty's require the user to empty the contents from time to time. The only way to empty one in or around the marina is to dump the contents into a toilet. This is where the harbor is having some issues. The emptying process into a toilet has recently resulted in the boaters bathrooms becoming unusable until building maintenance has cleaned up the toilets. We discourage the use of Porta Potty's in the harbor as there is no good way to empty these systems other than at RV parks that have receptacle bowls specially built for their use.  

Please remember washing or using a hose to remove the waste into the harbor waters is prohibited. Thank you 

  

There are different marine managed areas classifications used in California's MPA network. This includes three MPA designations (State Marine Reserve, State Marine Conservation Area, State Marine Park), a marine recreational management area (State Marine Recreational Management Area), and special closures:

 

2.2.1 Deck Wash down and Runoff and Above Water Line Hull Cleaning 

 

Vessel owner/operators must minimize the introduction of on-deck debris, garbage, residue, and spill into deck washdown and runoff discharges. Before deck washdowns occur, you must broom clean (or equivalent) exposed decks or use comparable management measures and remove all 

existing debris. When required by their class societies (e.g., oil tankers), their flag Administrations, or the U.S. Coast Guard, vessels must be fitted with and use perimeter spill rails and scuppers to collect the runoff for treatment. Where feasible, machinery on deck must have coamings or drip pans where necessary to collect any oily discharge that may leak from machinery and prevent spills. The drip pans must be drained to a waste container for proper 

disposal and/or periodically wiped and cleaned. Additionally, to reduce the risk of any leakage or 

spills of harmful oils into the aquatic environment, EPA strongly encourages the use of environmentally acceptable lubricants in all above deck equipment. The presence of floating solids, visible foam, halogenated phenol compounds, and dispersants, or surfactants in deck 

washdowns must be minimized. Vessel owners / operators must minimize deck washdowns while in port. Vessel owners /operators must maintain their topside surface and other above water line portions of the vessel to minimize the discharge of rust (and other corrosion by-products), cleaning 

compounds, paint chips, non-skid material fragments, and other materials associated with exterior topside surface preservation. Furthermore, vessel owners/operators must minimize residual paint droplets from entering waters subject to this permit whenever they are conducting maintenance painting. Possible minimization techniques include, but are not limited to, avoiding paint spraying in windy conditions or avoiding over-application of paint. This permit does not authorize the disposal of unused paint into waters subject to this permit. 

If deck washdowns or above water line hull cleaning will result in a discharge, they must be conducted with "minimally-toxic" and "phosphate free" cleaners and detergents as defined in Appendix A of this permit.  Furthermore, cleaners and detergents should not be caustic and must be biodegradable.