Poulin: “close look at risks”
POUGHKEEPSIE – The Coast Guard’s Hudson River Ports and Waterways
Safety Assessment (PAWSA) workshop began its two-day session in Poughkeepsie
on Tuesday.
The process was borne out of the earlier consideration of approving 43
new barge anchorages on the river between Yonkers and Kingston, but it
will go beyond that, said Rear Admiral Steven Poulin.
“It is a process that allows us to take a really close look at risks
– navigational and environmental risks – associated with a
particular waterway and it helps us inform and give us a better understanding
of what those risks are and how we may mitigate those risks,” he
said.
Following a news conference, the media allowed to stay for the workshop’s
opening remarks prior to the remainder of the sessions, which were held
behind closed door with over 40 participating stakeholders and a dozen
municipal leader and resident observers.
One of the stakeholders, Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan, questioned
the makeup of the workshop participants implying that 60 percent of the
stakeholders are from the marine commerce industry that would benefit
from additional anchorages. In response, Poulin said that “nobody’s
views would be discounted” and the reason for the unusually large
group of participants is so that the Coast Guard can be made aware of
all factors that could affect the safety of vessels and the river as a
whole.
Other stakeholders in Poughkeepsie include Riverkeeper, Pace University,
Hudson River Pilots, Hudson River Waterfront Alliance, and Tug and Pilots
Council of New York and New Jersey.
The Coast Guard will conduct another two-day PAWSA workshop in Albany
next week.
