New York City Bans Navy Ships
The unwritten ban on nuclear-powered ships dates back to a dispute over a plan in the early 1980s by President Reagan’s Navy secretary, John Lehman, to create a series of “strategic home ports” that would spread America’s fleet around the country. One of the locations selected to house a new home port was Stapleton, on Staten Island. While Mayor Koch and Governor Cuomo supported the idea, the Staten Island site sparked fears that mayhem could result if nuclear-armed or nuclear-powered ships had an accident in one of America’s most densely populated areas.
These arguments swayed Mayor Dinkins, who announced after taking office in 1990 said he would oppose the presence of any ships armed with nuclear weapons, because they constituted a risk to New Yorkers’ health and safety. Mr. Dinkins and a group of New York congressional representatives asked Vice President Cheney, who was then secretary of defense, to halt construction on the Staten Island port, which was never completed. The Navy took the flap to mean that nuclear reactors and weapons are not welcome in New York’s harbors.
Mr. Dinkins could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Nearly 20 years later, the unwritten ban has never been lifted. According to a spokeswoman for the Navy, “nuclear propulsion, by itself, does not prohibit visiting New York Harbor.” Nuclear-powered ships have nonetheless honored the unofficial arrangement and avoided the city, as Naval officers assume that these ships are not welcome without an explicit invitation from the city’s mayor.
Here’s what the handwringers say:
The president of the Institute of Energy and Environmental Research, Arjun Makhijani, an opponent of nuclear power, said terrorism concerns were a legitimate concern.
“I think nuclear and New York City, especially after 9/11, should not be mixing,” Mr. Makhijani said in an interview.
He suggested that if the Navy eventually brought nuclear-powered vessels into the city, it should first inform local officials of the potential consequences of a worst-case scenario accident so a response can be planned.
I think that wacky non-English speakers and the media should not be mixing. Thank you very lovely!
