Marine Services Unit
New York offers an abundance of scenic waterways, offering outstanding recreational opportunities for
boating enthusiasts. The Atlantic Ocean, Long Island Sound, and Lakes Ontario and Erie beckon to those
wishing to cruise offshore. The boater who seeks a more tranquil setting can head toward the Finger Lakes,
with the scenic beauty of surrounding hills and many vineyards. They can also travel to one of the many
Adirondack lakes set against the dramatic rise of the high peaks. For the sports enthusiast, New York
offers pristine lakes and streams for fishing, or whitewater adventure on any of several rivers. And
finally, for the historian and tourist, there are the Hudson River and State Barge Canal System, connecting
New York not only to points north and west, but to our maritime heritage as well.
With the availability and diversity of all this water, boating's popularity throughout the state is easy to
understand. New York ranks among the leaders nationally in the number of registered vessels, 529,844 and
counting, with many more non-mechanically propelled boats that do not require registration. As the number of
boats continues to grow, new and diverse boat types are introduced, attracting more and more people to the
sport.
The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) has been given the responsibility of
providing the public with a safe, enjoyable environment for recreational boating. The ultimate goal is to assist
the boater in developing safe boating habits. Education and enforcement are the tools that will help achieve
that goal. OPRHP was a national pioneer in developing an education program for youthful boaters, and almost
6,000 youths ages 10 to 17 complete our program each year. As the education program targeting operators of
personal watercraft completes its fourth year, more than 40,000 adults have now earned their safety
certificates. OPRHP encourages all adult boaters to take a safe boating course, whether they ride a personal
watercraft or not. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadron also conduct excellent
programs for both youths and adults. Either of their certificates is acceptable in lieu of the state certificate.
A strong law enforcement presence on our waters is also crucial to the safe boating effort. The marine
patrol officer serves many functions. Through the enforcement of the Navigation Law, marine patrols can
remove the dangerous boater from the water. They are also quite often the first respondents to a boater in
trouble. Marine patrols serve as visual reminders to the boating public that they have a responsibility
toward the safety of other boaters, as well as toward themselves. Many of these patrols consider educating
boaters as much a part of the job as writing tickets; they often teach safety courses for youth, distribute
safety information at boat shows and county fairs, and provide on-the-spot information to the waterborne
boater who is unaware of proper safe boating practices.
Boater Education
New York has a history of training youthful operators since the early 1960s. Any youth between the ages of 10
and 18 who wishes to operate a motorboat without an adult in the boat must first earn a safety certificate,
either from State Parks, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or the U.S. Power Squadron. As of 2004 all operators of
personal watercraft will have to complete a boating safety course before
hitting the water. The New York Safe Boating course now trains youths and adults with a minimum of eight hours
of classroom training. Subjects covered include: required equipment, the rules of the road, buoys, safe
operation, seamanship, accidents and special activities. A list of courses, updated weekly, can be be found
at: Boating Courses. In 2004 over 500 instructors taught more than 25,000 students in both programs. The
instructor cadre is comprised of dedicated individuals from law enforcement agencies, boating organizations,
yacht clubs, boat dealerships and many other boating related interests. While State Parks administrates the
program, it couldn't be done without the efforts of these extraordinary volunteers and commercial providers.
Law Enforcement
Park police operate patrols in 10 of our 11 park regions. Their jurisdiction does not end at
the borders of the parks, but extends throughout the state. The State Police run patrols across the state and are
especially active on the Barge Canal system. The Department of Environmental Conservation also runs patrols across New
York, and enforces the Navigation Law as well as enforcing fish, game and pollution statutes. On a more local
level, most County Sheriff's Offices operate marine patrols on their waterways. Many of the cities and towns
in Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk Counties supplement the county's efforts with their own patrols either
through their police departments, or through the establishment of Harbor Masters and Bay Constables offices.
State Parks supports these efforts through a series of marine law enforcement training programs, and through
the disbursment of vessel registration fees to reimburse patrol expenses.
Regatta Permits
- Regatta:
- An organized water event of limited duration which is conducted according to a pre-arranged
schedule, and in which general public interest is manifested.
According to Section 34 of the NYS Navigation Law, any organization or individual wishing to conduct a
regatta on any of the navigable waters of the state must apply to the Marine Services Unit for a permit.
The applicant must specify date, times, location, security provisions, and submit a small fee for permit
processing. Written consent is also required from a local law enforcement agency that conducts patrols on
the intended waterway. The Department of Environmental Conservation handles this function in the Adirondack
and Catskill regions, and the United States Coast Guard issues permits for federally regulated waterways.
Visit our Resources page to download a Regatta Application.
Floating Object Permits
- Floating Object:
- Any anchored marker or platform floating on the surface of the water other than aids to navigation
and shall include, but not be limited to; bathing beach markers, swimming or diving platforms, mooring
buoys, fishing buoys, ski jumps and special anchorage areas.
Waterfront property owners are permitted to put one mooring buoy and/or one diving platform (100 square foot
maximum) within 100 feet of their shoreline, and within the boundaries of their property lines. If they wish
to place a floating object beyond 100 feet from shore, or in excess of the one object allowed, they must seek
permission from State Parks in accordance with Section 35-a of the NYS Navigation Law. This category of
floating object includes mooring buoys, bathing beach markers, special anchorage area markers, speed zone
markers, and swimming floats.
In general, the permit is granted based upon the recommendation of a local marine law enforcement agency
using the following two criteria:
- a) Does the object pose a hazard to safe navigation?
- b) Does the object restrict free access to and from the shore for other residents?
Please note that this applies only to sole state waters outside of the Adirondack and Catskill Park
Regions, in which case the Department of Environmental Conservation should be contacted. For waters falling
under federal jurisdiction, such as Long Island Sound, the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain and other tidal waters,
please contact the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Visit our Resources page to
download a Floating Object Permit Application.
Public Vessel Inspection & Licensing
A Public Vessel is defined as any mechanically propelled vessel used or operated for commercial purposes on
sole state waters, such as Lake George. In New York, this encompasses everything from water-ski boats to
fishing charters to tour boats, some with capacities in excess of 1,000 people. Each year some 270 vessels
are inspected and nearly 800 operators are licensed. Public vessels are subject to an annual inspection, which
includes all safety equipment, the vessels engines, hull, steering and fuel systems. Operators are examined
upon application for a license, which must be renewed annually. Completing a boating safety course is a
condition of receiving an original license. Vessels inspected by the USCG are exempt from these provisions.
Sections 50 - 69 of the Navigation Law detail the requirements for Public Vessels. Visit our
Resources page to download an Application and Study Guide.
Vessel Theft
The Marine Services Unit coordinates the anti-theft efforts of marine law enforcement agencies across the
state. Part of this program includes the issuance of hull identification numbers to vessels not given one
by the manufacturer, or in the event the vessel is homemade. Approximately 500 of these numbers are issued
through OPRHP each year. Each vessel's number is distinct, and can greatly assist in the recovery of stolen
vessels. Of the vessels reported stolen each year more than one-third were personal watercraft. Smaller
motorboats accounted for another third of all vessels stolen. These craft are easy targets for theft: small,
portable, and usually already on a trailer. The recovery rate is low for these types of craft; typically
only 1 in 4 are ever recovered. Visit our Resources page to download a Hull
Identification Number Application.
Aids to Navigation
State Parks is responsible in part for the placement and maintenance of navigation aids on sole state waters.
The Canal Corporation is responsible for the State Barge Canal, the Department of Environmental Conservation
maintains aids in the Adirondack and Catskill regions, and the United States Coast Guard maintains navigation
aids on federal waterways. Each year, OPRHP places approximately 2,000 aids to navigation in our state
waters. The crew that completes this work is based in the state's Finger Lakes Park Region. In addition to
placing these aids, this crew is responsible for the upkeep of these aids and the removal of them at the end
of the boating season.
Boating Publications & Public Service
State Parks provides several free publications designed to make boating safer and more enjoyable for the
recreational boater. The primary reference source for boaters is the New York State Boaters Guide, which
contains information on all of the rules, regulations, registration information and safety guidelines
necessary. Also of great value is the New York State Boat Launch Sites, a complete listing of all of the
launch sites operated by State Parks and the Department of Environmental Conservation. State Parks also
instituted the Loaner for Life personal flotation device program. Under the program, when a Park Patrol
finds a boater without life jackets, they receive a loaner PFD to see them safely to shore. Finally, Parks
is working directly with the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide boating safety mailings to boaters as
they receive their notices to renew. Visit our Resources page to download the
Boaters Guide or search for a Launch Site.
Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
Marine Services Unit
Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza
Agency Building 1, 11th Floor
Albany, NY 12238
518/474-0445
518/408-1030 (fax) |
