MARBLEHEAD — The Harbor and Waters Board met recently to discuss harbor operations, vessel upgrades, and the uncertain status of a major shipyard resiliency project, with Harbormaster Mark Souza providing most of the updates.
Souza began with an update on the Town’s newly acquired patrol and response vessel, which he recently traveled to the Seattle area to inspect and test.
“Happy to hear that it exceeded some expectations in the performance of the boat,” Souza said, describing the sea trials.
While the testing was conducted in inland waters rather than the open ocean, Souza said the conditions were demanding.
“The wind just rips down there and the seas get pretty nasty,” he said.
Souza said the vessel was tested extensively.
“We did everything possible to work it,” he said, adding that the fire and dewatering pump is “unbelievable.”
Souza said he was pleased with the overall performance of the boat.
“Super happy with it,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a really, really good asset all the way through.”
The vessel has since been shrink-wrapped and loaded onto a trailer for transport. Souza said there are still minor steps to complete before it is launched locally, including lettering and final outfitting.
Souza also provided updates on general harbor conditions, noting that several docks and piers are aging and will require increasing maintenance. He said he had not observed significant ice damage following recent cold weather.
“I haven’t,” Souza said when asked about ice damage, adding that the ice appeared “slushy.”
Addressing winter boat safety, Souza expressed concern about sailboats left in the water and explained why the harbormaster’s office does not assist with non-emergency access during the winter months.
“We don’t offer that service unless it’s an emergency,” Souza said, “because if the liability might bring someone out of the middle of the winter, and I put them on that boat, and they fall in the water for some reason after I leave, then I’m taking (the) responsibility.”
A significant portion of the meeting focused on the status of funding for a long-planned shipyard resiliency and seawall repair project.
Board members discussed delays in a federal port improvement grant decision, now pushed to February, and complications related to required matching funds.
The project relies on a combination of federal, state, and local funding, and the delay has raised questions about how the required matching funds would be secured.
“Well, it requires a match,” Wolf said. “And half, more than half of the match, was coming from a state grant, which we had already won.”
He said the Town had been waiting on the federal portion of the funding, but that timeline has now shifted.
“That was basically we had won that, and it was waiting to see if we got the federal, but now it’s been pulled back because of 3A,” Wolf said.
Souza said the situation requires flexibility from federal officials due to circumstances beyond local control.
“I think we got to ask for leniency in time from the feds on this,” Souza said.
Board members discussed the possibility of pursuing at least minimal repairs even if grant funding does not materialize.
“We’ve got to do something here to keep it from falling in,” Wolf said.
Referencing the overall financial condition of the municipality, Souza said in regard to the State of the Town meeting held last week, “the Town’s not in good shape.”
Souza said he expected more communication from Town officials regarding the funding challenges facing the harbor.
“I’m waiting for that knock at the door with us,” he said. “I just expected a knock, not necessarily tape, but a knock.”
The Board agreed that continued coordination and planning will be necessary, as the harbor faces both immediate operational needs and long-term infrastructure challenges.
