Comment Period Continuing for Proposed Holland Coast Guard Station Closing

HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – The Coast Guard Station in Holland is going away.

Last month, the Coast Guard office in Washington issued a “request for comments” on the planned consolidation of “redundant Coast Guard boat stations,” according to the summary in the document. “Many stations were established at a time when boats lacked engines and were powered by oars and paddles. With modern boat operating speeds and improved direction finding technology, many calls for Coast Guard assistance can be responded to by multiple units significantly faster than when these boat stations were first established. The combination of significantly improved response times, along with an overall reduction in rescue calls due to boating safety improvements throughout the nation, has resulted in a number of boat stations becoming redundant. This consolidation will result in a more robust response system by increasing staffing levels and capacity at select nearby boat stations. Such a consolidation creates synergy and more opportunities for boat operators to properly train instead of missing training opportunities while standing ready to respond to calls that do not come.”

The waters in and around Holland would be covered by Coast Guard vessels and personnel from the Grand Haven post permanently after Labor Day, according to Congressman Bill Huizenga.

“The Coast Guard will say that there are a lot of factors that come into this – faster boats, greater range,” the Zeeland Republican said on “WHTC Morning News” during his weekly interview last Thursday (July 1, 2021), “but certainly the decision is impacted by (commercial) usage, and I have no doubt that the commercial side of this is a part of that.”

Holland Harbor’s commercial traffic has diminished since the 2016 decision by the Holland BPW to stop shipments of coal to fire its James DeYoung Power Plant, followed by the plant’s subsequent retirement the following year in favor of the natural gas-powered Holland Energy Park.

The comment period for the Coast Guard’s consolidation plan runs through August 3^rd, and a link to the document and how to submit a formal comment is here.