Safe Harbor: Berth Expansion to Support New Bedford's Growing Commercial Fishing Fleet

Once the world's most famous whaling-era seaport, New Bedford now stands as the number one fishing port in the nation based on total value of catch. With a fleet of over 470 commercial fishing vessels and only 160 public berths, New Bedford is challenged with increasing demand for adequate space to safely accommodate the fleet. Overcrowding of commercial fishing vessels at the docks is common, and captains will often raft their vessels together up to six (or more) abreast at the piers during storms. Not only does overcrowding of the facilities pose obvious threats to the safety of vessels and crew; but also the associated pier structures, which were not designed to handle the berthing loads to which they are currently subjected. In 2007, the City explored engineering alternatives to relieve the congestion at its five public commercial docking facilities. The study analyzed the current berthing situation and provided a cost-effective engineering "action plan" that would provide additional berths for the fleet within the next three to five years. Establishing these alternatives was accomplished through both correspondence with members of the fishing community, city officials and industry stakeholders and the analysis of the current berthing situation. The proposed alternatives were a result of the evaluation of various layouts, including (1) the construction of new facilities, (2) establishment of mooring fields, (3) floating dock systems and (4) fixed pier expansion. The final recommendation from the study included the installation of a concrete floating dock extension to one of the existing piers, in conjunction with a partial de-authorization of an obsolete maneuvering area within the harbor's US Army Corps Federal Navigation Project to accomodate the expansion.