Good news for Island boaters: Marinas and boatyards may open, thanks to a decision announced Saturday by the governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Marinas and boatyards will be permitted to open for personal use so long as strict social distancing measures and sanitization protocols are followed, the governors said.
Here on Shelter Island the news was met with relief. At the Island Boatyard on Sunday, James Brantuk said they’d already begun putting boats in the water.
“We are very excited,” he said, noting that the boatyard had been paying staff throughout the stay at home order, and that “it was difficult” to learn last week that the order was being extended through May 15.
Brantuk said boatyard staffers were at work Sunday, practicing social distancing and largely working outdoors. Boat owners will be notified by email about new protocols, including modifications being worked out for refueling at the gas dock, he said.
“Right now, we’re just making sure we get all the boats in the water,” he said.
A regional agreement
The announcement about marinas and boatyards, aligns the policies of the three states on this particular service.
In their joint statement, New York’s Andrew M. Cuomo, New Jersey’s Phil Murphy and Connecticut’s Ned Lamont, said chartered watercraft services or rentals will not be allowed. What’s more, restaurant activity at these sites must be limited to take-out or delivery only, like anywhere else in the three states.
“Throughout this pandemic, we’ve worked closely with our friends in neighboring states to implement a uniform regional approach to reducing the spread of the virus,” Cuomo said. “Aligning our polices in this area is another example of that strong partnership, and will help ensure there is no confusion or ‘state shopping’ when it comes to marinas and boatyards.”
“We’ve committed to working with our regional partners throughout this crisis to align our policies when and where appropriate,” Murphy said. “A unified approach is the most effective way to alleviate confusion for the residents of our states during the ongoing public health emergency.”
“Our states share workforces, resources, public transit, and we all have share a connection on the water,” Lamont said. “This is yet another example of how our states have shared interests, which is all the more reason to collaborate on these kinds of decisions. This decision provides uniformity across our marinas.”
