20 hours ago
Ash from Bunker Hill fireworks damages boats at Charlestown Navy Yard, owners say
Marino said he headed to the docks Wednesday afternoon after Charlestown Marina sent an email to boaters warning that 'ash and fireworks debris' had settled 'on and around the vessels in the marina.'
'We recommend checking your boat and rinsing off any visible debris to prevent staining,' read the message, which went out to customers around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday.
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Marino said some of the ash had 'ground in' and 'burned' the surface of his 41-foot Rampage Express, a vessel he's currently trying to sell. Despite power-washing the boat, he said the damage is permanent and will require professional repairs.
In an email to the Globe on Friday, Matt Shea, northeast regional manager of Pyrotecnico, the national fireworks company responsible for Tuesday's display, said the event had the proper permits and was launched from a designated safety zone that 'exceeded the Commonwealth's requirements.' He added that members of the Boston Harbor patrol and fire department were present during the show.
'Unfortunately, the following day, it was discovered there was ash on several boats, possibly due to upper-level winds,' Shea said. 'The debris apparently was not observed by bystanders during the show. Our team is currently working with the affected boat owners to address their damaged vessels.'
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The Boston Fire Department also confirmed to the Globe that they issued a permit for the fireworks display but said they had not received any complaints related to the fallout.
Marino, the boat owner, said he had 'never' had problems like this before. 'And there's fireworks going off in Boston Harbor all the time,' he said.
Another boater, Sylvain Theroux, said the boats in his section were 'totally covered' in ash, including his 32-foot Galeon 325 GTO, which is less than a month old.
'We just want someone to pay for it,' he said.
Rita Chandler can be reached at
