Seawall collisions are becoming so frequent that several Lake Michigan communities are considering stringing lights along breakwaters to ward off boat strikes. On face value this approach seems prudent; however, it is ostensively misleading and what seems apparent could result in not fewer boating mishaps but more. Let me explain.

Although seawall or breakwater collisions occasionally occur, it’s important to ask: how many do not? Countless boaters have safely entered harbor systems at night without incident. That tells me that the current aids to navigation on these structures serve their intended purpose: safely guiding boaters into port at night. I believe that most boaters are aware of the location of harbor structures and that most approach them at night with caution.

However, during daylight that is not the case. Take Muskegon harbor. I have stood at the end of Muskegon’s South Breakwater and have watched numerous boaters race towards the harbor, round the breakwater light, and roar down the boat basin, only to bring back the throttles as they near the inner pier heads.

At night do they roar into the harbor in similar fashion? I doubt it, but what if they now have a lighted breakwater as a reference point. I believe it would encourage throttle jockeys to turn daytime behavior into a nighttime hazard. What about boaters or people in the water that could be readily seen in daylight that are now shrouded in darkness? Harbor officials and commercial captains from the Straits of Mackinac to Chicago report a noticeable increase in man-powered craft on the water at night particularly kayaks. Rather than hitting the seawall and inflicting self-imposed mayhem, they will inflict mayhem on others who for what ever reason might be near the structures. And if you light these structures up, you will undoubtedly draw more people out into the lake at night.

Not only will lighted structures draw more watercraft out into the lake, but lights will also draw breakwater strollers. I discussed foot traffic with Chief Warrant Officer Brad Hinken, Aids to Navigation manager at Coast Guard Group Milwaukee and former officer in charge of Station Muskegon. He raised an interesting point in the form of a question: “How many boat collisions have resulted in fatalities and how many people have died off breakwaters and piers?”

I told him that over my 23 years of Coast Guarding on Lake Michigan, I know of three fatalities resulting from seawall collisions, and all involved alcohol. One involved a 20-year old male who slammed into the Saugatuck pier at a high rate of speed, in early morning and in fog, so the light issue is irrelevant in this case. On the other hand, I know of 12 fatalities occurring off Lake Michigan seawalls and breakwaters between 2003 and 2005. Ironically, one of these fatalities that occurred on November 30, 2003, took place off Grand Haven’s South pier when a 10-foot wave snatched a 19-year-old male off the pier late at night. And wouldn’t you know, the catwalk on the pier is lined with lights, and it’s a short pier compared to Muskegon’s north and south breakwaters that extend 2,300 feet out into Lake Michigan. The breakwater offers a walkway that sits much closer to the water than the Grand Haven pier, and when the breakwater becomes awash with running seas it poses a threat to foot traffic.

The foot traffic concern is not an issue in Chicago where officials are considering placing lights on the breakwater off the Navy Pier since access to the breakwater is not accessible by foot. Thank God! Chicago also must deal with city background lights that compete with lighted aids to navigation, as does Calumet Harbor. I discussed the background light issue with Captain Dean Hobbs, Car Ferry Badger, who in addition has operated tug boats out of Chicago. Captain Hobbs voiced concern that boaters might confuse a lighted breakwater with background lights and slam into a breakwater. I have made countless approaches to harbors at night and background lights can play havoc with night vision.

Notwithstanding the pros and cons of lighting up breakwaters, there is a common deterrent regarding all breakwater and pier collisions that totally lies in the hands of boaters– bring back the throttles. Throttle jockeys can be restrained in two ways: by the boat operator or by law. Yes, law and Indiana has one on the books that offers a pliable alternative to stringing lights along breakwaters. During a discussion with Chief Paul Decker, Officer in Charge, Michigan City, Indiana, I discovered that Indiana has a state law that prohibits motorized boats from exceeding 10 mph when operating on Lake Michigan within the state border and inland bodies of water under Indiana jurisdiction.

This could explain why Indiana has few seawall and breakwater collisions, especially at Michigan City where a 1,300 foot-long detached breakwater with lighted aids at opposite ends marks its location some 2,000 feet off shore. This open-water structure invites mishaps, yet they seldom occur. I spoke with Lieutenant Shepherd of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. He told me that in his 27 years of dealing with Lake Michigan boating he can recall only four boat collisions with seaward structures. The law was in effect when he began with the department.

Indiana has clearly placed the burden of responsibility on the boater, where it appropriately belongs. And a smart boater would have it no other way.

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