Range Marker -- Haverstraw Marina

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WindDancer-II

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Joined
Feb 18, 2010
RO Number
32022
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Has anyone noticed the range markers located outside (on Beach Rd) are not on, or who to report it to to get fixed? They are a big help coming in at night, especially with all the light pollution from the pier.
 
They are private markers owned and maintained by the sheetrock plant. Since they are shutdown, so is the range marker as it is no longer needed for gypsum supply ships.
 
They appear to be partially blocked by "On Your Mark" anyway. Besides that, a few nights ago On Your Mark had not only all its blue decorative lights on, but had strobe lights going on its mast structure.
John, I wouldn't think that the gypsum ships would even need the range marker since they never really got in close enough to matter and the tugs nudged them into their dock.
Ben, range markers can be different colored lights, man made objects, or natural geographic features that, when aligned with each other on a vertical axis, indicate a safe course into a harbor, anchorage, marina, etc. I don't go into Bowline but I believe they use a church steeple and something else as a sort of range marker to enter Bowline safely. If those range markers start to separate from one another it means that a course correction is necessary. The range markers for Haverstraw Marina are on shore and probably a little to the right of where On Your Mark is docked.
 
Interesting topic. I always wondered about the purpose of those markers on Beach Road. As John said, the supply ships don't go anywhere near there and besides, tugs bring them in. I suppose someone coming into West or Silver dock may use them although it is well lit over there from the street lights etc. You would really need to be beyond careless to hit the shore there & its all deep water leading up to it.
 
It was used to align the gypsum ship up on the entrance channel. The tugs would turn the ship out in the channel and assist bringing her in. They used to dredge the area along side the dock every few years. Guess that will not happen again...
 
As Butch stated they are there for the ships to lineup properly as they approach. Yes the tugs complete the docking but the range markers help get the ships in the correct orientation. They really were never intended for the marina's use but it was a very nice side benefit.

Look at the range markers on the Haverstraw Bay channel. At both ends the markers are near land but the commercial river traffic never gets close to them. They are used as visual and/or radar targets to guide the vessel from a distance. You can also tell if you are left or right of the channel since the markers will either line up for center or offset one side or the other depending on if you are port/starboard of center channel.

Butch, they just dredged 2-3 years ago so we should be OK getting to the fuel dock for a few more years. The plant is supposed to reopen if the housing industry ever recovers but who knows when that might be.
 
A recreational boater should not need range markers to get into Haverstraw marina. Just keep the conveyor belt to starboard and the breakwater to port...
 
And the restaurant, conveyor belt & lite up sculpure make the entrance pretty much impossible to miss in any kind of weather. Once in it's pretty easy from there.
 
And now we even have a blinking light at the end of the breakwater.
 
We just came back from the trip to Havertraw. The channel leading to the marina is well marked, so it's pretty easy to navigate. It was my firts time there and I din't have any issue navigating.
 
No, they say if demand increases they will reopen..
 
Thanks folks good feedback. True range markers are "Generally" not needed, but there are situations were they do help. "On your Mark" kicks out alot of light, almost too much at times.
 
No, united water is actually setting up in west Haverstraw on the back side of the old landfill. The suction pipe is suppose to come out from Haverstraw Marina...
 
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