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Cruise Ship Blocked by Illegally Docked Boats
22 Aug
Summary
- Cruise ship docking delayed by two illegally parked boats.
- New PA law allows removal of abandoned boats from river.
- Boaters must not interfere with licensed commercial users.
On Friday morning, the American Heritage cruise ship encountered an obstruction while attempting to dock at Pittsburgh's North Shore along the Allegheny River. Two boats were found illegally parked, preventing the cruise ship from docking as intended.
This situation is part of a recurring problem with boats not following docking rules or being abandoned. However, a new law, Pennsylvania's Act 28, was enacted in January of last year. This legislation empowers the Sports & Exhibition Authority to remove abandoned boats from regulated areas without incurring liability.
Under Act 28, boat owners must be given 14 days' notice before removal and 30 days before disposal. A boat is considered abandoned if it remains on the property for over 48 hours. Despite these regulations, the illegally docked boats on Friday interfered with the cruise ship's operations.
Workers from American Heritage were observed physically moving the obstructive boats. Signage and the SEA's website clearly state that boaters are prohibited from blocking or interfering with commercially licensed users of the park and riverfront. The Sports & Exhibition Authority confirmed they have initiated notification procedures with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for these non-compliant boats.
