Ambrose Light platform to be demolished

Ambrose Light platform to be demolished The U.S. Coast Guard said it will begin demolition of the Ambrose Light platform at the entrance to New York Harbor on Monday.
   “It was determined that Ambrose Light is not absolutely necessary to perform safe navigation through Ambrose Channel,” said Chief Warrant Officer Darren Pauly, a Coast Guard Sector New York Aids to Navigation (ATON) officer. “Instead, several navigational aids will be added and Ambrose Channel will be extended to create a wider, more navigable channel for larger commercial vessels.”
   Andrew McGovern, president of the New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots, who guide ships into the New York harbor, said the change had been thoroughly discussed by the port’s harbor safety committee and had the blessing of the pilots.
   He noted that with deepening of the Ambrose Channel, his pilots will now meet ships about five miles farther offshore to guide vessels into the harbor, since as the channel was deepened, the entrance to the harbor was also extended out to sea.
   The light’s legs, stanchion, rotating light and anchorage were severely damaged following an allision with the commercial vessel Axel Spirit, a 799-foot Bahamian tanker in November 2007. Personnel from Sector New York’s Aids to Navigation Team established a temporary navigational aid after the allision while contractors assessed the damage to Ambrose Light.
   “Ambrose Light has had three allisions since 1996. That is the main reason it is being replaced. It is not cost effective to rebuild the light every time it is struck. With our improvements to the channel and newer Light-Emitting Diode (LED) technology, the optics on large buoys provide the same purpose and are easier to maintain,” Pauly said.
   The Coast Guard said no explosives will be used during the deconstruction. Divers will be conducting on-scene assessment of the anchorage and commercial harbor tugs Sea Wolf, Sea Bear and Miss Yevett will be assisting during the project.