Choosing a Clean Marina
Finding Boating Amenities that Help Protect the Environment
The choice you make in selecting a marina for your boat makes a difference to the health of our marine environment
Many boaters consider the amenities provided by their future marina in the decision to sign a rental agreement. As we would expect, a swimming pool or tennis court does make mooring at a marina a more attractive option. The concept of clean boating is one that we have explored often in the Boating and Sailing section of Suite101. There are several upland facilities and amenities that boaters interested in protecting the environment should contemplate. Having the proper facilities available at your future marina can greatly reduce the effect your boat has to the surroundings.
Location - The distance you travel to mooring has an effect on the fuel you fuel to get there and the time left to get out on the water. A more basically equipped marina closer to home may be a better option than its upscale cousin another hour away.
Upland Comfort Stations and Pumpout Facilities - A key component used to reduce the discharge of wastewater from boats is to encourage the installation and use of upland restroom facilities. This action directly reduces the use of your onboard Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) and the need to pump it out frequently. Marinas that collocate showers and laundry equipment with their comfort stations provide an excellent additional benefit to their customers. The environment benefits as well with the diversion of the resulting gray wastewater to approved upland treatment facilities. Your marina should be equipped with pumpout facility and encourage its customers to use it. There are funding opportunities for marinas that wish to install these systems.
Vessel Wastes - Choose a marina that is equipped to properly handle wastes generated by your vessel. These include used oil, contaminated fuel, leftover paint, antifreeze and garbage. These waste streams are not necessarily hazards to the environment until they are improperly handled. Used oil that kept free of contaminates like gasoline or solvents is a perfectly acceptable heating fuel. Contaminated oil is considered hazardous waste and the cost of proper disposal is exponentially higher. Products like antifreeze and lead-acid batteries can be easily recycled. Good facilities make a difference. A marina with adequate trash disposal and fish cleaning sites will help keep these materials out of the water.
Vessel Maintenance - The design and construction of vessel maintenance facilities can keep contaminates from activities like hull washing and bottom painting out of the water. Your boatyard should use washdown or maintenance pads built of nonporous materials and designed to collect the process water used on the boat for further treatment. Pollution caused by stormwater runoff needs to be addressed. Dustless vacuum sanders and proper screening will reduce airborne pollutants. Marinas that offer dry rack storage present an additional option. Leaving your boat out of the water until needed reduces the growth of marine organisms and related hull maintenance.
Fueling Stations - Having a good fueling operation in the marina will protect the environment and increase safety. Marinas without a fuel dock are at greater risk of spill or fire because boats are likely to be fueled by portable containers. Correctly inspected fuel docks have spill control and firefighting equipment ready for immediate use.
In brief, as you make the big decision of finding a new home for your boat, also consider the environmental effects of your vocation. The design of your marina makes a difference. Protecting the environment now through clean boating practices will preserve future access to our marine world.
