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Our Mission

To support recreation and recreational organizations in New York Harbor

To foster communication and cooperation between the recreational industry and other harbor industries

To lobby and advocate on behalf of the recreational industry

About

The Harbor Ops Committee has agreed to establish a Recreational Sub-Committee. This Committee works with the US Coast Guard to enhance communication and smooth operations within New York Harbor. The Harbor Ops Committee has historically been populated mostly by commercial shipping interests. However, in the last 30 years, recreation use of the harbor has increased. Now the Harbor Ops Committee is welcoming a recreational Committee to have a seat at the table.

Join Us

All organizations & businesses involved in recreation in New York Harbor are invited to join this Committee.  It’s easy to join. Please complete this form:

  • Business/Organization Information

  • Contact Person Information

Meetings & Governance

The full Harbor Ops Committee meets at the US Coast Guard base on Staten Island at 10 am on Wednesdays about once a month or every other month. This time and location is not convenient to most people in the recreational industry. Many people involved in recreation do so on a part time or volunteer basis and have other jobs or occupations during business hours. Therefore, the Recreational Committee will conduct its meetings primarily by conference call at 7:30 pm on the Monday evenings when the full Harbor Ops Committee meets on Wednesday.

The Recreational Committee will be governed by a President who is elected for a one year term by a majority vote of members. During the build out phase of this committee, from it being founded in May 2019 until May 2020, the initial President will be Michael Fortenbaugh, Commodore of the Manhattan Yacht Club. It is hoped that the Presidency of this committee will rotate among the various recreational industries or groups active in the harbor such as sailing, paddling, rowing, swimming, etc.

The initial funding for this committee will come from the NY Harbor Sailing Foundation. The Foundation will unwrite this webpage as well as the staff needed to reach out to all recreational harbor users to invite them to join.

The President of this committee will be tasked with attending the Harbor Ops Meetings and representing our full committee.