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Letters/Online Comments

RE: OC Parks Amends Application for Corona del Mar Visitor Dock

(MAY 14-27)

Wow, this is fantastic news. It is great to see public access restored at the Bayside Drive County Beach and Marina. What a great location and the 5 guest slips (40ft in length) are only $40 per night, best deal in town with water/power hook up and easy street parking.

I am not quite sure what the Sheri ’s Harbor Patrol was thinking when they closed o public access at this OC Parks location that was intended for public use and paid for with public dollars.

All’s well that ends well…. Nice work OC CoastKeeper! — Happy Boater

RE: Ask a Maritime Attorney: Tenant Protection Laws and

COVID-19 (JULY 10-22, 2020)

“I have a boat in a Marina and the Dock Master and I had a confrontation that did not go well. He told me to get out of his Marina. The Marina was recently sold. I have rented a slip for the past seven years. There was a mix-up with the direct payments from my bank, because of the sale. I live in Maui and I came to L.A. to resolve the rent issue. The DM came at me, guns blazing. I received a 30-day notice with no reason as to why, just leave by June 6. I have paid the rent through the sixth. I have tried everything from selling to donating with no luck. I emailed the DM apologizing for my part of the discussion and asked for more time. A friend of his, who has a sailboat next to mine, wanted to buy the boat for his son. He asked his friend, the DM, if he bought the boat could he let him have the slip. The DM was happy and said yes of course. At 3:00 p.m. two days before the sixth the deal fell through. In my email, I asked if I could fi nd a buyer so they could stay in the slip. In addition, I asked if he would consider letting me stay. He has not responded to my email or any of my three calls. What are my options? Your article says he can not evict me unless he goes through Civil Court. Please help.” — Gale Zander

Comments are edited for clarity and grammar.

Reader Q&A By Lindsey Glasgow

RE: “Pirate Days Coming

to San Diego (MAY 19-20)

QI would love to know when this is happening again. Also, is this here all the time in San Diego? I would love to take my grandchildren. — Lucy

AThe Maritime Museum of San Diego will not be hosting Pirate Days this year. Pirate Days is a two-day annual event hosted by the Maritime Museum that features activities such as costume contests, carnival games, cannon fi rings, sword fi ghts, appearances by mermaids, and a scavenger hunt for pirate treasure.

Theresa Smullen, the director of marketing for the museum, said Pirate Days could possibly return in the future. She said with COVID-19 it has been a very challenging year as all events were canceled in 2020 and they are just now gearing up to reactivate event programming.

The next event on the docket for the museum is a July 4 dinner and evening cruise. The event includes a dinner ashore or on an evening bay cruise and viewing of fi reworks over San Diego Bay. Each includes general admission to tour the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s historical vessels and open exhibits.

Details on all upcoming events are posted on the museum’s website at sdmaritime.org/ visit/public-events/.

The museum is open on a daily basis and features exhibits, historic ships, and tours. For more information and tickets visit sdmaritime.org/visit/museum-admission/. The museum has also resumed its Naval History Tours on weekends aboard the restored PCF 816 Swift Boat. More information and tickets can be found at sdmaritime.org/ visit/on-the-water-adventures/ pcf-816-swift-boat-tour/.

The museum is expected to resume its “Boarded! A Pirate Adventure,” an interactive show that puts visitors in the middle of the pirate action, later this year or next year.

FAST FACTS Offshore Drilling in Southern California: Where it Started The California State Lands Commission permitted the first offshore oil development in state waters in 1921. Between 1921 and 1929, approxBy: LINDSEY GLASGOW imately 100 permits and leases were issued and over 850 wells were drilled in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties in state waters, according to the SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA— Offshore drilling in State Lands Commission. Southern California has been a controversial topic The first oil platform off California, and persince the first offshore oil development was per- haps in the world, according to Love, was committed in the state in 1921, and continues to be a pleted in 1932 by the Indian Petroleum Compaheavily debated topic today. ny. Constructed of steel in 38 feet of water, the

Offshore oil drilling dates back to 1896 when aptly named “Steel Island” was eventually home the world’s first offshore drilling wells were drilled to three wells that stood until January 1, 1940, from piers in Summerland, Calif. Another 22 com- when waves battered and destroyed the platform, panies joined in, constructing 14 more piers and according to Love. over 400 wells within the next five years, accord- In 1929, the Legislature prohibited any new ing to the Institute for Energy Resource. Accord- leases or permits in state waters, not allowing new ing to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric leasing until 1938, and again in 1955. Association, oil exploration and drilling were vir- By the 1960s, offshore oil production began to tually unregulated at the time, and spills were take off in California. A number of platforms were common. installed in state waters and began in federal wa-

The 1920s saw a series of oil discoveries partic- ters with the installation of Platform Hogan in ularly along the Santa Barbara Channel that led to 1967, according to Love. additional offshore drilling, according to A Brief Expansion of offshore oil drilling came to an History of Oil Development in Southern Califor- abrupt halt in 1969 when a disastrous blowout and nia by Milton Love. The discoveries were made on subsequent oil spill at Platform A in the Santa Barland but development quickly extended onto piers made of steel pilings. Please see FAST FACTS, PAGE 6

On Board With Johnson by J.R. Johnson