Dear Paula,

I have made some headway for all of us. I just heard back from the Coast Guard. I feel very confident that full operations of the Waterfront Museum will continue for next year.

I am going to be sending the Coast Guard my plans for next year’s programming during the coming week and expect to hear from them shortly thereafter for the final outcome.

Since last reporting to you, Honeywell has offered to donate a first-rate fire alarm system to the Museum. I expect to have our COI sometime early in 2006.

For your records, the following is an portion of the response from the US Coast Guard.

"Regarding use of the vessels, at some point, a line is crossed where the vessel itself is no longer the attraction and acts more like a shoreside occupancy. What the Coast Guard needs to know in order to issue an Attraction Vessel COI for a year is where the vessel will be for that year and what the vessel is scheduled to do while in port. Problems may arise when the vessel is engaged in more concerts, receptions, and other events that take away from the intent of Attraction Vessel service. The Captain of the Port and I are open to occasional events such a circus', bands, haunted tours at Halloween, etc. So, from that standpoint, our original position is relaxed a bit; however, we will still need to know what the vessel will be doing and when over the course of the year. That will require planning on the part of attraction vessel owners."

I look forward to continuing forward positive momentum.

We are on course to become NY City's first attraction vessel. Our challenge is to create the docking facilities and a support network which will allow us to take the show on the road -- the water highway.

Thank you all so very much for all your help and support as we patiently work through these issues and pioneer new destinations. New life for an old barge.

All my best,

David Sharps Waterfront Museum

-- PaulaZ - 28 Nov 2005
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