| Press Release: NYS Canal Corporation, May 26, 1998
New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation Chairman
Howard E. Steinberg and New York State Police Superintendent
James
McMahon announced the official start of the state police patrol for the
1998 navigation season on the New York State Canal System.
New York State Police Troop T’s marine patrol is
responsible for oversight and policing of the Canal System and Canalway Trail.
The marine patrol uses motor boats and personal watercraft to patrol the
524-mile Canal System that extends along the Erie, Oswego, Champlain and
Cayuga-Seneca canals. Mountain bikes are used to patrol the four segments of
Canalway Trail that cover more than 220 miles.
“Troop T’s marine patrol has been a welcome
presence along the Canal System and adjacent Canalway Trail,” Steinberg
said. “As the Canal Corporation attracts more people to the waterway and
trail network, we also want to ensure our visitors’ safety.”
Much of the Canal System is in remote areas. Troop T works
in coordination with local police agencies to ensure that all areas of the
Canal System are covered. Troop T’s bike patrol, which began as a pilot
program during 1997, was made one of the official forms of patrol along the New
York State Canalway Trail in 1998.
“The main goal of the marine patrol is to ensure
safety,” McMahon said. “During the navigation season Troop T responds
to emergencies on the waterway and trails. During the winter months the
officers spend a great deal of time educating boaters and bikers about safety,
as well as ensuring that boaters understand the rules and regulations.”
During 1998, State Police Troop T will place a strong
emphasis on boater safety for children. As part of the State Police campaign to
remind boaters to wear their life jackets, members of the marine patrol will
give away t-shirts to the first 200 children wearing the appropriate personal
flotation device (PFD) while in the boat.
“During 1997, Troop T’s marine patrol assisted 59
disabled boats and conducted 1,011 vessel inspections from May through
October,” McMahon said. “Some of the vessel inspections resulted in
violations due to excessive speeds and reckless boating, outdated or missing
boat registrations, boating while intoxicated and other safety
violations.”
Some requirements that the marine patrol looks for during a
boat inspection include:
- making sure that all children under the age of 12 wear appropriately sized personal flotation devices (PFD);
- proper registration of the vessel through the state Department of Motor Vehicles;
- whistle horn and anchor on all mechanically propelled vessels;
- visual distress signals, three hand held flares or orange distress flag for vessels over 18 feet;
- ventilation or blower in working order and a properly charged fire extinguisher; and
- backfire flame arrester on inboard boats.
“Troop T’s expertise in and coordination of
emergency response on water and trails helps maintain a safe and peaceful
environment for outdoor recreationalists,” Steinberg added. “I wish
all of our boaters and trail users a safe and enjoyable summer.”
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