DESCRIPTION: The primary areas of responsibility for this project area are New York and New Jersey Harbor and its adjacent and tributary waters, and Long Island Sound (33 U.S.C. 451b). This continuing maintenance involves the detection, investigation, and supervision of the removal of hazards and obstructions to navigation (by responsible parties when possible), in order to avoid serious jeopardy to the large volume of commercial and recreational vessel traffic in New York & New Jersey Harbor and its associated waterways This work maintains the navigational safety by providing enforcement authority to compel those responsible for such hazards and obstructions to correct or mitigate the impacts of their actions, at their own expense and with their own resources.
AUTHORIZATION: The project was originally authorized by an act of Congress of June 29, 1888 (25 Stat. 209), which established the office of the Supervisor of New York Harbor, with the primary purpose of preventing injurious or destructive deposits in the waters within their jurisdiction. Subsequent to a number of modifications (particularly in acts of July 12, 1952 (66 Stat. 596) and August 12, 1958 (72 Stat. 970 (Pub.L. 85-802)), the responsibilities are set out in 33 U.S.C. 441-452.
STATUS: This work is a year-round maintenance operation, consisting of two coordinated functional areas: the operation of vessels, which perform routine patrols during regular operations, as well as special surveillance and immediate response when required, and carrying out inspections, investigations, case management, and case resolution for specific incidents. The number and the serious nature of such incidents for which assistance is requested (predominantly by the U.S. Coast Guard or State and local police forces) have remained high. This is of particular importance in light of the high public profile of navigational safety and incidents affecting navigation channel usage (i.e. aircraft accidents over the waterway; vessels breaking from their moorings and floundering; increasing number of commuter ferry boats, and homeland security concerns) in New York & New Jersey Harbor: one of the Nation’s largest and busiest strategic ports.
FUNDING: Annual federal cost is $1,790,000 (based on Fiscal Year 2023 costs)
CONTACT:
Richard Thorsen
Project Manager
P: (201) 309-2350
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
Caven Point Marine Terminal, 3 Chapel Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07305
District Area: NJ 05-13, NY 1-22