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Oriental’s Marina > Oriental Harbor Marina

O

riental Harbor Marina is located in the village on the town-side base of the Highway 55 bridge. Dockmaster Ross Pease reports that before Hurricane Irene’s arrival, some 20 boat owners moved their vessels to other locations. Some anchored across the Neuse in the South River while others relocated to other marinas.

The Oriental Harbor Marina as viewed Sunday from the bridge. The largely empty A Dock is visible on the right. Docks B and C are located at photo center. After Hurricane Irene’s eye passed over the marina, the winds shifted to the south – the 3 o’clock position in the photo. This drove the open waters of the Neuse River, amplified by the storm surge, into the marina.

View from the bridge- this photo was taken Saturday during Hurricane Irene.

Sinking on B Dock. The powerboat “Robin’s Nest” sank in her slip. During the storm surge, she would have been lifted by the rising waters. It appears her propeller or rudder settled on the finger pier to her port side. As the waters receded, the hung appendage tipped the vessel to starboard, leading to submersion.

The remains of a finger pier on A Dock. A Dock appears to have suffered the brunt of the damage with many pilings bent and finger piers damaged. Dockmaster Ross Pease says there was only one boat on A Dock during the storm. The surge damaged many finger piers such as this one. Finger piers are the short dock extensions that allow boat owners to access their vessels. Usually decked with heavy timbers and planking, this one was reduced to pilings. The cleat, as with most in the marina, held.

The finger pier on B Dock after making contact with “Frog’s Leap”.

A downed finger pier on B Dock. The floating wood debris appear to have come from elsewhere..

A shredded jib on A Dock. While most damage was water related – the storm surge throwing vessels into pilings and piers – some was wind related. Here, “Lady” is shown with a torn jib (marinas usually recommend sail removal to prepare for a hurricane). During the storm, the high winds unfurled and then ripped the sail.

Surprisingly, most Dock boxes on A Dock remain secured. Many power boxes didn’t fare as well.

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Pictured is C Dock. While A and B Docks occupy the marina’s deeper waters, C Dock, being closer to shore, is reserved for shallower draft vessels. Buffered from the direct hurricane impact by Docks A and B, this pier suffered minor damage. Damage to vessels was relatively light, with dislodged rub rails and abrasions counting for the majority of incidents.

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Posted Thursday September 1, 2011 by Keith N. Smith