Charter boat overcrowding a fire hazard

June Casagrande

If the city were to crack down today on all businesses whose

overcrowded docks were posing a fire hazard, about half the charter

boats in the Newport Harbor would be without a berth tonight.

“Some of these boats are so close together it’s a dangerous

situation,” Mayor Steve Bromberg said.

Fire inspections have revealed rampant noncompliance with fire

codes designed to protect boats and passengers, Assistant City

Manager Dave Kiff said.

The city’s Harbor Commission will consider what to do about the

problem at its March 12 meeting.

“It’s definitely a problem, but we don’t know what the solution is

yet,” Kiff said.

Officials emphasize that the charter boat operators are not the

cause of the problem. The businesses that own permits to operate

commercial docks are responsible for adhering to the fire rules

attached to their permits.

But, from a slightly different angle, charter boats are also in

the commission’s sights. The commission has formed a subcommittee to

look at ways to regulate the charter boat operators better. The goal

is to reduce parking, noise and safety problems posed by the charter

boats and their patrons.

The committee will consider a number of possibilities laid out by

city staff. Among them: the city might put a moratorium on all new

charter boat permits, limit passenger capacity of new charter boats,

or step up enforcement of parking and permit requirements.

In 2002, about 100 commercial boats carried about 400,000

passengers in Newport Harbor. No new permits were issued in 2002, but

passenger taxes for existing businesses brought in $152,800 for the

city.

Harbor Commissioners Marshall Duffield and Ralph Rodheim own

businesses that already have such permits, Duffy Electric Boat

Rentals and Balboa Boat Rentals, respectively.

Commissioners will consider the fire safety issue at their March

meeting. At their April meeting, they are expected to hear the

findings of the subcommittee that is now looking at parking, noise

and passenger safety issues.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.