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Sailing and boating are as much of being a Marylander as blue crabs and Pimlico. But like many other recreational activities, water sports have the potential to damage the surrounding environment. With state support, many Maryland marinas have gone green. In fact, according to a survey by Marine Dock Age, Maryland has some of the highest percentages of “clean,” meaning eco-friendly, marinas in the country.
When they’re not green, marinas can damage the environment in a number of ways, mostly dealing with pollutants being introduced into the water. Dock fuel pumps, boat repair stations, boat cleaning and even parking areas can leak harmful chemicals into the water. On a smaller level, things like fishing line picnic garbage can enter the waterways and cause harm to marine life. Green marinas help keep Maryland’s waterways clean.
At the state level, Maryland created the “Clean Marina” program beginning in 1997. Currently, 115 marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs (about 22% of those in the state) have been certified as “clean marinas.” Smaller boating areas, such as community piers, can get “clean partner” certification.
In order to be certified, marinas must achieve a passing score on a number of standards established by the state. The first step is to sign the “Clean Marina Pledge,” which states, in part, “I pledge to do my part to keep Maryland’s waterways free of harmful chemicals, excess nutrients, and debris.” Marinas also must pledge to control pollution associated with boat maintenance and repair, sewage disposal and stormwater runoff. The marina then has one year to achieve recognition as a Maryland Clean Marina. The Clean Marina guidebook can be downloaded at dnr.state.md.us/boating/cleanmarina/
One leader in the Maryland’s “Clean Marina” program is Herrington Harbour. In addition to a recycling program, Herrington (which includes both Herrington North and Herrington South) has planted a living shoreline, established a no-discharge zone for Herring Bay and an extensive recycling program.
A “living shoreline” is a more environmentally-friendly option to concrete bulkheads. Owner Steuart Chaney planted native grasses to the shoreline at Herrington Harbour South to prevent it from sliding into the Bay. Moreover, the grasses provide a habitat for more native flora and fauna, including fish, reptiles and birds.
At both Herrington Harbours, motor oil, diesel fuel, antifreeze, cardboard and shrinkwrap can all be recycled, meaning that Herrington can keep 50% of its trash out of landfills. The Inn at Herrington Harbour South not only has recycling bins in each room, but uses recyclable cups, plates and bowls and breakfast, and its toilet paper, paper towels and paper napkins are all made from recycled material.
In 2008, Herrington added the “Freecycle Dumpster,” where people can leave things that are in good condition, but that they no longer want, and someone else can come pick it up. And just this past March, Herrington on the Bay Eco-Lifestyle Events was the first Chesapeake Bay Caterer in Maryland to achieve Green Certification from the national Green Restaurant Association.
Sunset Harbor Marina in Essex is a member of Maryland’s “Clean Marina” program. Their services include using environmentally-friendly methods to strip the bottom of boats and a recycling program that includes waste oil, oil filters, gasoline and anti-freeze. They also initiated the Baltimore County Shrinkwrap Recycling Program in 1996.
Even City Dock in downtown Annapolis is a certified “Clean Marina, achieving its recognition in 2009, focusing a great deal of its effort on encouraging the staff to educate boaters, many of whom visit Annapolis from out of state. All boaters get a pamphlet providing environmental education in their welcome packet when they arrive. “The staff understands the need to be environmentally responsible in a city that is known for its environmental initiatives,” said Annapolis Harbormaster Ric Dahlgren.
Even individual boaters can contribute to help keep the Bay clean. Fouded in 2001, the Maryland Clean Boater Pledge is available at dnr.state.md.us/boating/cleanmarina/boater.asp and includes many of the same goals listed in the marina pledge, such as containing trash and taking care of materials such as oil and gas. There are also clean boating lesson plans for boating instructors.
Good behavior is contagious—if someone sees you picking up trash or using a phosphate-free cleaner on your boat, he or she will be more likely to do the same thing themselves. And as boaters choose to support clean marinas, other boatyards will see that going green isn’t just a good choice for the environment—it’s good for business, too.
A complete list of certified clean marinas in Maryland:
1. Advanced Marina, Ocean City
2. Anchor Bay East Marina, Dundalk
3. Anchor Yacht Basin, Inc., Edgewater
4. Anchorage Marina, Baltimore
5. Annapolis City Dock, Annapolis
6. Annapolis City Marina, Annapolis
7. Annapolis Maryland Capital Yacht Club, Annapolis
8. Annapolis Yacht Club Sailing Center, Annapolis
9. Atlantic Marina on the Magothy, Pasadena
10. Atlantic Resort Marina, Pasadena
11. Bahia Marina, Ocean City
12. Baltimore Marine Center, Baltimore
13. Baltimore Yacht Club, Baltimore
14. Bay Boat Works, NorthEast
15. Bay Bridge Marina, Stevensville
16. Bay Ridge Civic Association Marina, Annapolis
17. Bert Jabin's Yacht Yard, Annapolis
18. Bodkin Yacht Club, Pasadena
19. Bowley's Marina, Middle River
20. Buzz's Marina, Ridge
21. Campbell's Bachelor Pt. Yacht Co., Oxford
22. Campbell's Boatyard @ Jack's Pt., Oxford
23. Campbell's Town Creek Boatyard, Oxford
24. Casa Rio Marina, Mayo
25. Castle Harbor Marina, Chester
26. Cedar Hill Marina, Bivalve
27. Chalk Point Marine, West River
28. Chesapeake Harbour Marina, Annapolis
29. Chesapeake Yacht Club, Shady Side
30. Chesapeake Yachting Center, Baltimore
31. Clark's Landing Boat Sales, Shady Side
32. Clark's Landing Marine Center, Chester
33. Coltons Point Marina, Coltons Point
34. Corinthian Yacht Club, Ridge
35. Cutter Marine, Baltimore
36. Duffy Creek Marina, Georgetown
37. Eastport Yacht Club, Annapolis
38. Fairview Marina, Pasadena
39. Ferry Point Marina, Arnold
40. Flag Harbor Yacht Haven, St. Leonard
41. Fort Washington Marina, Fort Washington
42. Gateway Marina, Trappe
43. Gratitude Marina, Rock Hall
44. Great Oak Landing, Chestertown
45. Gunpowder Falls State Park, Dundee Creek Marina
46. Gunpowder Neck Boating Club, APG-MWR
47. Harbor View Marina, Baltimore
48. Hartge Yacht Harbor, Galesville
49. Haven Harbour Marina, Rock Hall
50. Herrington Harbour North, Tracy's Landing
51. Herrington Harbour South Marina, Friendship
52. Hinckley Yacht Services, Annapolis
53. Hinckley Yacht Services, Oxford
54. Kent Island Yacht Club, Chester
55. Knapps Narrows Marina, Tilghman
56. Lippincott Marine, Grasonville
57. Little Island Marina, Edgewater
58. Locust Point Marina, Elkton
59. Long Point Marina, Inc., Earlesville
60. Magothy Marina, Severna Park
61. Maryland Marina, Baltimore
62. Mears Marina, Annapolis
63. Mears Point Marina, Grasonville
64. Mears Yacht Haven, Oxford
65. Miles River Yacht Club, St. Michaels
66. National Harbor Marina, Oxon Hill
67. Oak Grove Marina /Persimmon Point Marine, Edgewater
68. Oak Harbor Marina, Pasadena
69. Ocean City Fishing Center, Ocean City
70. Ocean Pines Marina, Berlin
71. Osprey Point Marina, Rock Hall
72. Oxford Boatyard
73. Parkside Marina, Baltimore
74. Piney Narrows Yacht Haven, Chester
75. Pocomoke River State Park, Shad Landing, Snow Hill
76. Point Lookout Marina, Ridge
77. Point Lookout State Park, Ridge
78. Point Patience Marina, Solomons
79. Port Annapolis Marina, Annapolis
80. Port of Salisbury Marina, Salisbury
81. Porter's Seneca Marina, Inc., Baltimore
82. Rhode River Marina, Edgewater
83. Riverside Marine, Baltimore
84. Rockhold Creek Marina, Deale
85. Rod 'n Reel Marina West, Chesapeake Beach
86. Saefern Saddle and Yacht Club, Annapolis
87. Sailing Emporium, Rock Hall
88. Sandy Point State Park Marina, Annapolis
89. Selby Bay Yacht Basin, Edgewater
90. Shelter Cove Yacht Basin and Marina, Northeast
91. Shipwright Harbor, Deale
92. Skipjack Cove Yachting Resort, Georgetown
93. Solomons Yachting Center, Solomons
94. Somers Cove Marina, Crisfield
95. Spring Cove Marina, Rock Hall
96. Spring Cove Marina, Solomons
97. St. Michaels Marina, St. Michaels
98. Sunset Harbor Marina - Baltimore
99. Sunset Marina, Ocean City
100. Sweden Point Marina, Marbury
101. Taylor's Marina, Elkton
102. The Wharf at Handy's Point, Worton
103. Tidewater Marina, Havre de Grace
104. Tidewater Yacht Service at Port Covington, Baltimore
105. Town Point Marina, Traceys Landing
106. Tradewinds Marina, Baltimore
107. Ventnor Marine Service, Pasadena
108. Washburn's Boat Yard, Inc., Solomons
109. Weaver's Marine Service, Baltimore
110. West Basin Marina
111. West Shore Yacht Center, Baltimore
112. Worton Creek Marina, Chestertown
113. The Yacht Basin Company, Annapolis
114. Young's Boatyard, Edgemere
115. Zahniser’s Yachting Center, Solomons
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