NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP – Neptune’s Township marina on S. Riverside Drive along the Shark River will be fully operational by the end of this month after being destroyed in October by Superstorm Sandy.
“We completely rebuilt the marina in five months. We have discounted the slip fees for those who got their boats in later than expected but we could not open the marina until it was safe,” Township Chief Financial Officer Michael Bascom said
He said that the state has just finished removing debris from the river.
“We are now putting in everybody that wants to go into the marina and we will be up to 100 percent occupancy soon. People see that we have been working on the marina nonstop and that we haven’t ignored it in any way,” Bascom said.
Neptune Harbormaster Ed Finlay said that many people who did not renew their slip rentals this year had their boats either damaged or destroyed during Sandy. Other boat owners, however, are flocking in because many other marinas in Monmouth and Ocean counties were also destroyed and are not up and running yet.
“There is absolutely a need and out of our 155 boat slips, I only have about 25 slips left,” he said.
The last of the pilings are now being driven in and by the end of this week it is expected all 10 docks will be completed. Electricity and water are expected to be fully functional at all of the docks by the end of the month.
A small building across S. Riverside Dr., which contained offices, bathrooms and a maintenance area, was also destroyed during Sandy and that is not expected to be replaced until next year. Portable toilets have been installed temporarily.
Instead of fixed docks, like the previous ones, all ten docks at the marina are now floating docks attached to 35-foot pilings.
“This gives the docks the ability to rise by 15 feet if the water level goes up. During Sandy the water level rose 12 feet,” Finlay said.
He said customers have been completely understanding and flexible about waiting the get “And it’s nice to see them enjoying their boats again,” he said.
