Allegheny River near train derailment open to all boaters who contact the Coast Guard

Although the Allegheny River was closed initially to all boat traffic from the train derailment site in Harmar to Pittsburgh on Thursday, the U.S Coast Guard has significantly shortened the safety zone and will let all boats pass through that river section if they contact the agency.

A Norfolk Southern train derailed in Harmar Thursday sending nine cars off of a railroad bridge into Guys Run, a tributary of the Allegheny River.

On Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard announced a designated safety zone on just a two-mile stretch of the river from the Pennsylvania Turnpike bridge in Harmar to near the Oakmont Yacht Club in Oakmont.

Boaters will need to contact the Coast Guard to be granted access to pass through the safety zone via marine radio VHF channel 16 or by calling 412-639-7288, said William Russell, lieutenant junior grade, with the U.S. Coast Guard and Marine Safety Unit in Pittsburgh.

The agency will answer calls from boaters 24-7, he said. The agency also will have safety boats stationed in the river at either end of the safety zone to help any boaters who didn’t call in advance.

News that river traffic ceased Thursday night from Harmar to Pittsburgh prompted some boaters to change their holiday weekend plans. But, with the Coast Guard’s announcement Friday allowing boats to move through the two-mile safety zone with permission, boaters said they are either unaffected or will only modify their plans.

“We have family coming for the weekend holiday and my son just got his boat running and we were all looking forward to going to the Point,” said Beverli Noble, of Findlay Township, whose son has a boat at The Docks at Bell Harbor Marina in O’Hara.

Since Noble’s boat is docked south of the safety zone on the Allegheny River, she can easily go downriver.

“We are still trying to get a hold of a few friends closer to the safety zone area to see if they can get out and head downriver,” she said Friday.

Ken Burkhart, owner of Harmar Marina and Boat Sales, said his docks with about 20 slips are about 500 yards from the salvage operations.

He described his small mom-and-pop style marina as low-key with longtime boaters who are self-sufficient. Burkhart said he will wait to see how the salvage operations go. “It probably won’t affect us,” he said.

This holiday weekend is the first holiday of the boating season and a big weekend on the water, said Warren Brooks, a crew member for The Lighthouse Marina in New Kensington.

Brooks helped launch several large boats using lifts on Friday. The marina is home to some larger boats such as yachts and houseboats.

“Because some people don’t want to stay in one pool and want to go downriver, or up the river, the derailment could put a damper on it,” he said. The Coast Guard’s recent announcement of allowing boats near the derailment with permission will give boaters more options.

Boaters might have a wait to pass through depending on salvage operations, the Coast Guard’s Russell said.

The Coast Guard received a few calls Friday morning from boaters concerned if they can navigate through the river, he said.

“So far, the experience has been positive,” Russell said. “The boaters can show up, request to come through and we’ll take it from there to make sure they have a safe transition.”