Another Town Readies for Earl

NS: Boat owners and operators prepare for wrath of Earl
By Staff, Transcontinental Media

Source: The News, September 2, 2010

[PICTOU, NS] — Pictures of the submerged and mangled boats left in hurricane Earl’s wake don’t have local boat owners and operators too concerned.

Most of Pictou County’s harbours and wharves are well sheltered and there has been little damage in the past, local experts say.

“There’s always potential for damage, but you can only prepare for so much and then hope for the best,” says Ronnie Heighton, Northumberland Fisherman’s Association president.

Most local fisherman will be putting out some extra ropes and perhaps some inflatable fenders to keep boats from coming in contact with anything else. Few people if any will bother taking their boats out of the water, he said.

“The vast majority of us are ready to fish herring,” he said. “We wouldn’t be inclined to take them out of the water.”

About 100 boats are docked at the Pictou Marina. There’s no way everybody could get them out in two days, but few are even talking about doing that, says marina manager Dave Edy.

“We’re just praying it doesn’t come through very much,” he says.

The Pictou Harbour is one of the most sheltered in the area, though, and has never had a major problem with storms in the past, Edy said.

Donald Cormier, vice president of operations and safety manager for the Northumberland Ferries, said they continue to keep a close eye as the storm approaches.

“It’s early yet, but obviously it’s a severe weather storm that’s moving in this direction,” he said.
Ferry service will be shut down if the storm is severe enough. “It really depends on the wind direction and how strong the winds are.”

The captain of the ferry is the one who makes the final call about whether it’s safe to sail.

“Those decision are made with due regard to the safety of our customers,” Cormier said.

Winds cause the biggest problem when the ferry is trying to dock.

“That’s why wind direction is a large consideration in sailing conditions,” he said.

If the ferry does shut down additional mooring lines will be put out and the crew will remain on board to make sure it’s safe.