Massive Fireworks Show Staged From Barge Off The South Shore

The island was treated to a surprise fireworks display Saturday night off Tom Nevers in what marine officials are calling an unprecedented operation involving a tug and barge navigating the south shore of the island.

The massive fireworks display, which was part of a wedding happening at a home on Reeds Way, included 923 shells being fired from a barge located several hundred yards off the beach.

Coast Guard Station Brant Point’s Andrew Babione and Nantucket Harbormaster Sheila Lucey told the Current a tug and barge operation like that south of the island and so close to shore was basically unheard of. They couldn’t remember a similar one.

Lucey said the strong currents and shoals south of Nantucket can make it treacherous for an operation like that, which is why it had never been attempted before.

“Personally, I wouldn’t have done it,” Lucey said.

But the operation, which included the tug boat Roy Boys, out of New Bedford, along with private safety boats and the Atlas PyroVision fireworks company, received approval from Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England in Woods Hole.

No public maritime assets from the Nantucket Harbormaster or the Coast Guard were utilized during the operation, and the tug boat, safety vessels, and Atlas were all contracted privately.

“It must have cost them some serious coin,” Babione said.

While it was unclear exactly how much was paid for the fireworks display for Saturday night's wedding, the town will pay for a similar fireworks show on the Fourth of July involving a tug and barge off the north shore and the same fireworks company. The cost this year is $39,000 for the fireworks, and $27,500 for the barge. While the town's fireworks display will be approximately 50 percent larger than the one for Saturday's wedding, according to Atlas PyroVision, the barge trip will be shorter and less complicated than doing it from south of the island.

While the Coast Guard granted the permit, Nantucket Fire Chief Steve Murphy said he was not in favor of the fireworks display happening.

“They were also told we would not be able to respond to any emergency due to the location,” Murphy said. “As well it was stated ‘Any and all assets that you will need to operate the shoot are your responsibility.’ This included all aspects that could be required. USCG was also contacted prior to issuing the permit. The company met requirements of the fire code and I was unable to deny the permit, even though I was not in favor of the display.”

Word of the private fireworks display started percolating around the island Saturday afternoon when island resident and former Coast Guard officer Greg Creedon spotted the barge on MarineTraffic app headed south of the island and posted about it on social media.

“I’ve never ever in my gazillion years here seen a tug and barge off the south shore,” Creedon wrote. “Ever. It’s been said to me the area is treacherous for commercial traffic, except fishing vessels.”

The post prompted numerous island residents to trek out to the Tom Nevers park after dark on Saturday to catch a glimpse of the display.