Recreation
Cap on boat landing commerce stays at 30 feet and 6 passengers
Restrictions on commercial activity at public boat landings in Georgetown County will be lifted for small charter operations, but not for a tour boat that ran afoul of restrictions in the city of Georgetown.
County Council rejected requests to allow larger boats to load passengers at the Carroll Campbell Marine Complex on the Sampit River in Georgetown.
Council Member Clint Elliott said he was concerned that an exception for the Campbell landing could lead to expanded commercial activity elsewhere, such as the Murrells Inlet Boat Landing in his district.
“Will they use the argument, well, you did Carroll Campbell, so why can’t we do it here?” he asked.
The change to the county ordinance, first adopted in 1991 after a tour boat began operating from Hagley Landing, came after the city obtained an injunction this summer to prevent the 40-passenger Rover Tours pontoon boat from picking up passengers at East Bay Park. The boat had rented a slip at the S.C. Maritime Museum, but the museum needed the space for its own boats.
Rover Tours shifted to the Campbell landing, but was told it violated the county ordinance and ordered to move.
In the meantime, deputies cited six fishing charter operators who were using the Murrells Inlet landing. They were found not guilty in magistrate’s court and Sheriff Carter Weaver claimed the ordinance was too broad to be enforced.
“It’s pretty much a rewrite from the title all the way through,” Jay Watson, the county attorney, told the council this week.
It allows commercial boats up to 30 feet to operate with up to six passengers. The limit coincides with Coast Guard licensing for charter captains, known as six-pack licenses.
A series of speakers have asked the county to allow boats the size of the Carolina Rover to use the Campbell landing, saying it will benefit tourism.
“I’m certain tourism of this nature is going to be coming,” Council Member Everett Carolina said.
He asked if the county had studied the tourism impact in drafting the revised ordinance.
Council Member Raymond Newton asked why the limit was 30 feet.
“Thirty feet is typically what is seen, particularly going out of Murrells Inlet,” Watson said. “At some point there needs to be a cut off.”
He also pointed out that there are other large tour boats that operate in Georgetown from private docks. Murrells Inlet also has large tour and fishing boats based at private facilities.
Carolina suggested the county consider leasing dock space at the Campbell landing.
Council Member Bob Anderson said he doesn’t think the county should get into the marina business.
“You’re opening up another whole area for consideration. It think it’s going to be very unmanagable at some point,” Watson said.
