Spring 2018 at MacMillan Pier

Overwintering Floating docks

Farewell to the Winter of 2017-18.  My blog has been on break since January 2014, but summer monitoring in Provincetown and Wellfleet has continued each year on schedule.  In the months ahead, I'll review the highlights of the last few seasons and discuss some of the current issues being considered for the marine invasives program.  In early April, I visited the McMillan Pier and was able to photograph some of the changes in the configuration of the floating docks during winter's off-season.  Below is a series of photos of the two floating dock complexes and a third finger pier on the east side of the main pier.  

First Floating Dock Out of Service

Floating dock complex nearest shore on the east side of the Pier.  Most of the seasonal docks on the north side (including the dinghy dock), which have no securing pilings, have been removed or moved parallel to the main dock.  No commercial vessels moor on this side of the dock, which is reserved for small boats and skiffs. Several of the secondary docks for the berths on the south side as well as the gangway from the pier have been removed (see below), preventing vessels from docking.

Several Secondary Docks Removed During Winter

Several secondary docks on the south side of the primary dock have been removed leaving their securing pilings behind.  While out of the water, the polyethylene floats can be thoroughly cleaned, which will provide a clean surface for settling plants and animals once the docks are back in the water.  The docks sit fairly low in the water so the the sides of the floats on docks still in the water can also be cleaned in place.  In April, the docks were home to numerous seagulls, so there will be plenty of clean-up to perform in preparation for the summer fishing and boating season.

Second Floating Dock Complex In Service

Second floating dock complex, which has berthing spaces on both sides of the main floating dock, has most of the secondary docks in place (a few are missing on the south side) and a functional gangway from the pier (see below).   During the summer, invasive seaweeds are common on these docks (the green alga Codium and red alga Grateloupe).

Finger Pier with No Floating Docks

The first of two finger piers on the east side of MacMillan pier is a permanent structure at the same height as the main pier and has no floating docks.  It is reserved for larger commercial vessels in the marina.  Access to the vessels is gained by wood ladders on the side of the pier.  This dock is not monitored for invasives, which are attached to the pilings below the low tide level and are accessible only by diving.   

ADDITIONAL IMAGES:

Satellite View of Pier Similar to April Visit

Missing Gangway to First Floating Dock

Gangway to Second Floating Dock

(See also MacMillan Pier Images in the Sidebar).

LINKS:

Summer at MacMillan Pier:  Photos of Floating Dock Complexes
Winter at MacMillan Pier:  I am Provincetown

Town of Provincetown Harbor and Pier Website: Harbor and Pier Homepage.

Town of Provincetown Harbor Rgulations and Documents:  Harbor, MacMillan Pier, and Mooring Regulations.