High Speed Ferry Safety Task Force of Long Island Sound

Meeting of May 21, 2007

The HSFSTF met at 1600 hrs on May 21, 2007 at the U.S. Coast Guard HQ in New Haven, CT. This begins the ninth year of our organization. Present were John Craine, Chairman, Fairfield County Commodores Assn.; Bob Brill, Co-chair, USCG Auxiliary; Doren Voeth, SeaConn; Chuck Beck, CT-DOT Maritime Manager; LCDR Alan Blume, U.S. Coast Guard; and Deborah Howes, Urbitran Ferry Projects.

U.S. Coast Guard Update. LCDR Blume reported significant organizational changes underway at Sector Long Island Sound. Capt. Boynton will retire and be replaced by Dan Ronan from the 1^st District on June1. Deputy Commander JJ Plunket is leaving late June and will be replaced by Kevin Burke, also from the 1^st District. LCDR Blume is retiring June 15 and will be replaced by Kevin Odilt, from Tampa. LT White is leaving June 15 and will be replaced by Eric Williams, arriving late summer from San Diego.

The Task Force expressed sincere thanks and appreciation for the excellent support receive from

Sector Long Island Sound and especially LCDR Blume and LT White. We extend our best wishes to the departing officers and wish them continued success in their new endeavors.

LCDR Blum also provided an update regarding the Broadwater/LNG proposal. This is one of forty LNG projects currently under consideration by FERC. After the USCG Waterway Suitability Report issued last year and the final public comments submission period in January, the final EIS will likely be released late summer or early fall. The USCG will then submit their final report. To make the waterway suitable, mitigation has to be consistent for both commercial and recreational usage and minimize risks. Thermal radiation risks concerning picket boats and the Cross Sound RO/RO ships are significant issues. An un-ignited vapor cloud could create exposure four miles from its source. Fire fighting equipment, procedures and funding would need to be finalized as part of the process before project authorization, design work, authorization to construct and license to operate are completed.

Plans and Operations. Doren Voeth reported that SeaConn’s project to build three K boat HS ferries is on going with no changes to the published launch date on their web site. Joe Riccio provided an update regarding the Bridgeport high speed ferry project. Planning and engineering are underway for service to Stamford and NYC. Two sites are under evaluation: Remington and the Port Jeff ferry area. Two 350 pax vessels at 40 kn are targeted. Permits and construction will take at least twenty four months. $9M in federal funding has been authorized but not yet appropriated. Deborah Howes is working with the Stamford Ferry Feasibility Project Team. She reported that four sites are under consideration for Stamford. They are all owned by the developer Antares. Further details will be available at a later date.

LIS Waterborne Transportation Plan. The next Ferry Coalition meeting is scheduled for June 5, 1030 AM, Port Jefferson, LI.

Task Force Financing. Chairman Craine stated the Task Force currently has sufficient funds in our SoundWaters checking account to cover web based administrative expenses and potential revisions to an updated safety brochure in the future.

Meetings. The meeting concluded at 1715 hrs. The next meeting of the Task Force is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 22, 2007.

Respectfully submitted, John Craine for Sandy McDonald, Secretary