Harbor Hawk Gas Boat
A dockside gas service fueling West Michigan’s boat owners. A marine delivery service that develops a shoreline route refueling West Michigan’s lake front property owners and marina vessels while they are docked.
Michigan’s first dockside fueling service offering fuel too lakes and marinas without fuel docks. Whether Harbor Hawk manages your annual lakefront equipment service or access, or if you’d just like to ditch the chore of lugging drippy gas cans down to the lake, Harbor Hawk exists to make your “Lake Living Made Easy”.
With a Harbor Hawk membership patrons can expect a consistent and steadfast commitment to clean water fueling and safety. A major component of Harbor Hawk’s training revolves around operational accountability and the technology to uphold exceptional standards in some of the toughest working conditions. While HH will not offer emergency refueling Harbor Hawk customers can expect reliable gas delivery serviced by a state-of-the-art fueling system to provide dripless fuel transfer from a fully anchored purpose built vessel. The Fuel Boat operation is in full compliance with NFPA 30 and 30A including the additional NFPA regulation that all passengers be disembarked during fueling operations. Nearly all existing marinas do not comply with this NFPA rule. The Vessel was extensively reviewed for compliance, structure, engineering, electrical and dispensation systems by the State’s Fire Marshalls office and further reviewed and the International Code council by that office. Please see the review documents and final decision on compliance.
In other considerations for operational safety, the HH Fuel Boat is governed to 7 knots, and upon arrival dockside deploys multiple spud anchors from its double wall stainless steel hull while refueling member’s boats. The delivery route excludes high traffic times for all lakes and member boats must always be moored or on a lift to conform to accepted marine fueling practice as described by the USCG Code of Federal Regulations. The Fuel Boat is also in full compliance with all Department of Transportation regulations as is the captain during transport.
Harbor Hawk’s vision for this service is to stop the accidental spills when fueling from gas cans and provide reliable partnerships with lakes and associations that value premium, non ethanol fuel while they enjoy the investment of lake front living. If you are part of a community desiring this service and the incentives offered to your association Please apply to Contact@HarborHawk.com
A West Michigan resident customer signs up for GAS BOAT delivery service and can request the GAS BOAT operator to fill their boats by using the app, phone, text or emailing. The customer is later billed like other shoreline services. GAS BOAT does NO “CONCESSION” sales on the water of gas or products. The “sale” takes place on the internet, app or at the customers home exactly like a pier sale, boat lift sale, rip rap sale, weed-cutting sale etc. All of these “sales” are not done on the water but the “delivery” after that sale occurs on the water.
We do not “float and fill” nor do we do emergency refueling. The GAS BOAT vessel operation is in full compliance with NFPA 30 and 30A including the additional NFPA regulation that all passengers be disembarked during fueling operations. Nearly all existing marinas do not comply with this NFPA rule. The Vessel was extensively reviewed for compliance, structure, engineering, electrical and dispensation systems by the State of Michigan’s Fire Marshalls office and further reviewed and the International Code council by that office. Please see the review documents and final decision on compliance.
Operating only in daylight hours the vessel will move along the shoreline at a maximum of 7 knots, approach a dock and spud anchor down prior to refueling West Michigan boat owners boats that must always be moored or on a lift to conform to accepted marine fueling practice as described by the USCG Code of Federal Regulations. The GAS BOAT is also in full compliance with all DOT HAZMAT TRANSPORT regulations as must be the drivers during trailering.
Harbor Hawks GAS BOAT will refuel its DOT tank in accordance with any requirements the launch municipalities request. The vessel typically refuels on land at a wholesale rack but can in some areas refuel while on water from tanker truck service if permitted by state regulations.(Florida and Texas)
Each West Michigan’s customer will be charged via credit card after refueling or service. GAS BOAT also does sanitary pump out of waste tanks. The customer is then billed. As stewards of a clean waterway GAS BOAT offers head pump out service for customers assuring no overspill of gray and black water in the lake.
Gas Boat Sign Up Form
GAS BOAT Introduction: SAFETY FIRST
GAS BOAT has developed a Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation , Wisconsin DNR and USCG approved self -powered marine refueling vessel for use on inland lakes, rivers, and coastline applications, See Department of Commerce Approval #200220010. (new approvals added in 2009-2017) The GAS BOAT is currently working with the Marine Safety Center in Washington DC for a full COI allowing the vessel in all sectors. The USCG has allowed the hull to be identified with a USCG HQZ number issued by the USCG for HIN numbers so states that have no classification for such a vessel can use the federal number for registration.
The GAS BOAT has been insured and in productive and safe use for 10 years without complaint or safety incident and can be trailered with a typical ¾ ton HD pick- up truck to any approved waterway. The standard model 23 vessel is 23 feet long, 8 ½ feet wide and can carry 600 gallons of fuel. The vessel is built of 303 stainless steel and has a 75 ft. powered hose and unique 13 foot stabilizers. A standard Evinrude E-TEC outboard powers the vessel at 7 mph and has bow and aft thrusters for easy maneuverability. Gross weight with a full load on trailer is approximately 13,000 lbs.
The vessel can be easily launched, piloted and pulled out by anyone possessing moderate boating skills after a passing the GAS BOAT course on tankerman safety (based on The River School tankerman training manuals approved by the USCG) and operational/maintenance training.
The vessel is typically refueled at wholesale land based racks. The same locations where DOT approved tanker trucks refill for distribution of fuel. The vessel and trailer conform to all Department of Transportation rules and regulations. The onboard tank is a DOT 406 stainless steel specifically designed for this vessels purpose. This allows the transport of a loaded vessel on United States highways and roads only by a person possessing a simple CDL License with Hazardous Material classification. The testing and licensing for this classification done by individual states but is recognized by all states.
SAFETY POINTS OF THE FUELBOTE
The vessel carries environmental clean-up on board including skimmers and booms with pilots trained in using them. It can be hired and utilized by the waterway as a clean-up vessel.
The vessel conforms with all NFPA codes and has passed Minnesota Fir Marshall review as well as confirmation of compliance from the ICC .(see hand-out)
The vessel has 3 layers of hull or barrier to fuel in excess of the 2 required by the US CFR’s and includes a containment reservoir.
The vessel has met all USCG inspection needs and was physically inspected by USCG Officer Felix Rivera in Clearwater FL. Full COI is anticipated.
Fuel transfer speeds are generally at 8 gallons per minute
Operation is limited to daylight hours with both vessels “ at station” or fixed. We do not “float and fill”.
The vessel is fully insured by Robertson Ryan in amounts deemed necessary by each state or municipality where operated.
All municipalities are named as an “also insured” on policies
The vessel has the bright colors of a gas can and a constant flashing light for safety and identification.
The Advantages of GAS BOAT over permanent structure marina refueling.
No more fuel spills in our waterways. Professional and trained in tanker man safety fully insured
No more marinas without gas service. GAS BOAT can provide it.
No more damage to vessels docking for gas.
No more underground or above ground tanks needed on the shoreline.
No more environmental eyesores or tank leakage dangers.
No more dangerous fuel cans to carry for property owners.
No more need to burn more fuel driving to a marina for fill needs.
No more hassle for the boaters. Their boat is always fueled and ready.
No more waiting in line at the fuel dock while they would rather be boating.
No more fuel spilled on boats. All trained and insured pilots.
No more fueling vessels with passengers on board per NFPA rule.
It is Harbor Hawks intent to act as a good steward and supplier to the waterway through better use of marine fuel, safer refueling and top service to the property owners and marina slip renters.
Please let me know any other questions I might answer for you as we apply for a conditional use launch permit. Thank You.