DEM, Marine association provides boating community with virus guidelines

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association last week issued the following guidance regarding the safe operation of marinas, yacht clubs, and harbor masters during the COVID-19 crisis.

“As the summer season approaches, many of you have started placing docks, providing boat service to ready vessels to be placed in the water, and installation and preparation of mooring fields,” a RIMTA statement read. “Although these are non-essential and elective, these operations are an important part of our economy and way of life. We are asking that the following measures be utilized so that this work can continue.”

According to the DEM statement, the one essential mandate relates to quarantine, namely that any person coming to Rhode Island from another state for a non-work-related purpose must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days (except for public health, public safety, or healthcare workers).

Other state guidance, which follows that of the national Centers of Disease Control, includes:

• Boatyards at marinas and yacht clubs should remain secure so that admittance can be monitored by the owners/operators.
• In the event an owner or other persons wish to work on their vessel, they should be cautioned about social distancing and monitored to ensure that no groups form. This is important to protect employees as well.
• Any sales at stores must be curbside pickup only.
  Limit use of facilities to R.I. resident seasonal slip holders only. Use of facilities by transients and out of state boaters is prohibited.
• Gloves must be worn while pumping out or fueling.
• Moorings may be installed and serviced per local harbor management plans.

In the event that a vessel arrives at a facility unannounced, they must be provided with the Public Health documents being provided to all out of state travelers. They should also be directed to the RI Department of Health website site to fill out the required information which can be found at https://health.ri.gov/covid.

For more information regarding business guidelines during the COVID-19 crisis, visit https://commerceri.com/business-guidelines-during-crisis.