The USACE New York Harbor is authorized to collect, remove, and dispose of drift, derelict vessels, deteriorated shore structures, and debris along the shores of New York Harbor and its tributary waterways. Drift consists of various materials carried by currents and winds and collects in streaks throughout the harbor. The drift collection fleet includes three vessels - the Hayward, Driftmaster, and Gelberman - as well as three patrol boats that assist in collection. In fiscal year 2013, 674,000 cubic feet of drift and floatables were collected, avoiding $25 million in damages. Collection of floatables also prevents pollution of New Jersey and New York beaches.

1. USACE NEW YORK HARBOR
DRIFT REMOVAL

2. AUTHORIZATION
• The Rivers and Harbor Act of 1915, 1917 and
1930 authorized the New York District to Collect,
remove and dispose of drift, derelict vessels,
deteriorated shore structures and debris along
the shores of New York Harbor its tributary
waterways. The Water Resources Development
Act (WRDA) of 1974 (88 Stat. 39) was modified
(by WRDA 90 Sect. 102(V)(PL99-662)) to
authorize the collection of floatables whenever
the Corps is collecting and removing debris that is
an obstruction to navigation.

3. DESCRIPTION AND LOCATIONS
• Drift consists of various sizes of wood, construction
lumber, pallets, trees, pilings, wreckage, wrecks,
fiberglass boats, plastics, styrofoam, sea grass, and
rubber tires. Drift is carried by the current and is
influenced by the winds and rains and moon. During
slackwater periods it collects in streaks. Streaks are
found extending from New York’s Gowanus Bay along
the Brooklyn Waterfront to the Narrows, and from the
Narrows across Red Hook Flats and up the Hudson
River and East River and off Bergen Point at the
confluence of Newark Bay, Arthur Kills and Kill Van Kull.

4. HAYWARD
The drift collection
fleet consists of 3
vessels: the
HAYWARD, a 124 foot
vessel with a twenty
(20) ton telescoping
crane, having a
seventy-five (75) foot
boom reach which
tows a catamaran
collector alongside
that holds one drift
net.

5. DRIFTMASTER
The
DRIFTMASTER,
a 100 foot
catamaran
vessel which
holds two drift
nets and can
lift 18 tons.

6. GELBERMAN
The
GELBERMAN, an
85 foot vessel
which can lift 7
tons and tows a
catamaran drift
collector
alongside that
holds one drift
net.

7. HOCKING
A total of three (3) Patrol
Boats are also used in the
drift collection activities.
These boats scout for drift
while accomplishing their
missions and report
sightings to the Drift
collection vessels assisting
when necessary. The
HOCKING is a 65 foot
Patrol Boat that assists the
larger vessels with drift
collection, and also can
tow debris alongside.

8. MORITZ
The MORITZ is a
60 foot Patrol
Boat that assists
the larger
vessels with drift
collection, and
can also tow
debris alongside.

9. HUDSON
The HUDSON is a
53 foot Research
Boat, when not
engaged in
research work,
assists the larger
vessels with drift
collection and can
also tows debris
alongside.

10. DRIFT COLLECTION
The project is an ongoing year-round
maintenance operation.
During fiscal year 2013 (October 1
2012 thru September 30, 2013)
674,000 cubic feet of drift and
floatables were collected.
Removing drift and floatables
each year results in the avoidance
of approximately $25,000.000 of
damages to the many cargo
vessels, tankers, barges,
passenger commuter ferries,
cruise ships, and recreational
vessels. This yields an annual
benefit-to-cost ratio of 3.79.
Consistent with the authorization
in the Water Resources
Development Act of 1990,
floatables are also collected so
they do not escape the harbor
and pollute the New Jersey and
New York bathing beaches.

11. DRIFT COLLECTION
Since the Corps of Engineers
implemented the Water Resources
Development Act of 1990
authorization there has not been a
major beach closure because of
fugitive drift and debris from the areas
covered by the Corps of Engineers per
the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Region 2 Floatables Action
Plan annual report. Prior to the
inclusion of floatables collection, these
beaches were often closed because of
wash ups of fugitive debris and drift.
The most infamous period was the
summers of 1987 and 1988. The
environmental and economic benefits
of assisting to keep the bathing
beaches safe and open have not yet
been completely developed.

12. JAMAICA BAY
OPERATIONS
Since 15 August
2014, USACE, in
coordination
with the National
Park Service, U.S.
Park Police, and
the American
Littoral Society,
have removed 8
derelict vessels
from Jamaica
Bay.