The New Jersey Boat Regulation Commission recently authorized changes to the  Shrewsbury River Slow Speed/No Wake Area.  The changes amend a temporary measure, first enacted in 2010. 

Under the new measure, the entire width of the Shrewsbury River from the Highlands Bridge, south to buoy 12 will continue to be a slow speed/no wake area.  The eastern side of the River, between buoys 12 and 17 will be a slow speed/no wake area.  The entire width of the River from buoy 17 south to buoy 28 (near Gunning Island), will continue to be a slow speed/no wake area.

The primary change from the 2010 temporary measure, is that from Buoy No. 12 south to  Buoy No. 17, vessel operators are not required to transit the River at slow speed/no wake, if they are operating on the western side of the River.       

This action came at the regularly scheduled Boat Regulation Commission meeting, held at the Militia Museum, National Guard Training Center, Sea Girt, New Jersey.  The temporary measure went into effect on May 1, 2011, and will remain in effect until  September 30, 2011, at which time, the Commission must determine if the measure should be made permanent, if it should be changed in some manner, or if it should be rescinded.

Prior to 2010, much of the affected area was already considered to be a slow speed/no wake area, either due to the proximity of area marinas, docks and bridges, or due to the prior designation of much of the area as a “temporary” slow speed/no wake area.    

New Jersey regulations require the operator of every power vessel to reduce speed to “slow speed/no wake” when passing: within 200 feet of a marina, pier, dock, wharf or abutment; when passing work boats engaged in work related activity; when passing through bridge openings of 400 feet or less; when traveling through lagoons, canals and confined areas less than 200 feet in width; when passing vessels not under command; when passing emergency vessels displaying emergency lights; or when passing vessels engaged in certain recognized activities and  displaying rotating or sequential flashing red and yellow lights.

In addition to the restrictions stated above, an area may be designated as a “temporary slow speed/no wake area” based on factors such as congestion, visibility, and safety.  These areas may be marked with a slow speed/no wake buoy or sign.  All vessels moving through a slow speed/no wake area must reduce their speed to “no wake speed” when operating within the designated area, or when operating within 200 feet of a slow speed/no wake buoy or sign.

In New Jersey, “slow speed/no wake” is defined as the speed at which a vessel moves through the water and is able to maintain minimum headway in relation to the vessel or structure being passed and producing the minimum wake possible.

In all cases, vessel operators are required to regulate the speed of their vessel so as to avoid danger or injury to all manner of watercraft, piers, wharfs, bulkheads, draw spans or other waterfront construction, whether that danger or injury is caused directly by the vessel or by the vessel wake. 

New Jersey Boat Regulation Commission Schedule

All New Jersey Boat Regulation Commission meetings are open to the public.  The 2011 Boat Regulation Commission meeting schedule appears below (only the remaining 2011 meetings are shown). 

For more information on boating safety topics, please visit the New Jersey State Police web site at www.njsp.org/maritime.

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