Friday, August 17, 2007
By KIAWANA RICH ADVANCE STAFF WRITER
Staten Island drivers know how dangerous it is trying to maneuver their way through local streets, but it can be just as treacherous for boaters trying to navigate Island waters.
 
Close to 100 people attended a meeting last night at the Great Kills Yacht Club, where the main focus was education and awareness, said Bill Paciello, events chairman of the Fishermen's Conservation Association.

The waterways of New York and New Jersey are shared by both pleasure craft and commercial vessels -- and the U.S. Coast Guard says approximately 1,400 commercial vessels move daily through these channels.

Many big vessels have limited maneuverability, making it difficult for them to get out of the way of smaller boats in local channels or harbors, said Capt. Rick Schoenlank of the Sandy Hook Pilots.