N.J. Stat. tit. 12, ch. 2

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-6 Office; suboffices; meetings

The board shall have suitable offices at Trenton at which all original records shall be kept. The board may for local purposes establish suboffices in other parts of the state. The board shall meet every month at Trenton at such times as its rules may prescribe, and at such other times and places within the state as in its judgment may be necessary. The director shall attend all meetings of the board.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-7 Director; appointment; tie vote

The board shall select a person who shall be known as the "director of commerce and navigation" . He shall be a resident of this state. In case the board cannot agree upon the selection of a director because of a tie vote therein, the governor shall sit with the board for the purpose of casting the deciding vote.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-8 Salary and term of director

The director shall receive a salary of not more than five thousand dollars per annum. He shall devote his entire time to the duties of his office and shall serve for a term of four years, and until his successor has been appointed and qualified.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-9 Subdepartments; chiefs

The board may create subdepartments or divisions, to take specific charge of the different lines of work. It may appoint heads or chiefs of such subdepartments or divisions.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-10 Removal of director

The governor may remove the director after a hearing upon charges submitted in writing and signed by a majority of the members of the board, if he finds the charges to be true and that their nature is such that the best interests of the state demand the removal of the director.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-11 Salaries of employees

The board shall fix the salaries of all employees of the department, subject to the provisions of Title 11, Civil Service, except where otherwise provided by statute.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-12 Employees of abolished and consolidated boards and commissions; director may abolish positions

The officers and employees in the employ of the former boards and commissions enumerated in sections 12:2-13 of this title, and retained in their respective offices and positions at the time such boards and commissions became consolidated with the department, shall be continued as employees of the department unless removed in accordance with the provisions of Title 11, Civil Service. The director, however, may, with the approval of the board, abolish any office or position which in his judgment it may be unnecessary to retain.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-13 Transfer to board of rights, powers and duties exercised by certain boards and commissions

The board shall succeed to and exercise all the powers and perform all the duties formerly exercised and performed by or conferred upon the board of riparian commissioners, the department of inland waterways, the inspectors of power vessels, and the New Jersey harbor commission, with which last-named commission the New Jersey ship canal commission was consolidated.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-14 General control of commerce and navigation

The board shall have full control and direction of all state projects and work relating, in any way whatsoever, to commerce and navigation, except such work as is conferred upon other boards, commissions, officers or agencies not included within the provisions of this chapter.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-15 Rules and regulations; records

The board shall make such rules and regulations governing the work of the department, the conduct of its employees and the performance of its duties as may be necessary to promote the interests of the state in all matters committed to its charge, and may alter or amend the same as it shall become necessary or advisable so to do. The board shall keep a record of all its proceedings and such records, together with all maps, plans and specifications on file in its office, shall be open at all reasonable times to public inspection as public records.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-15.1 Charges for berthing space or anchorage; disposition

Whenever the Division of Planning and Development in the Department of Conservation and Economic Development acquires the land and constructs a public basin, or leases berthing space for boat anchorage to the public, a reasonable charge shall be made for said space or anchorage by the division, and revenue so collected shall be paid to the State Treasurer and deposited in the General State Fund; and the cost of administering this act shall be included in the annual appropriation law. L.1941, c. 352, p. 923, s. 1. Amended by L.1950, c. 138, p. 272, s. 2, eff. May 25, 1950.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-17 General powers and duties of director

The director shall: a. Be subject to the rules and regulations of the board; b. Exercise general supervision over all projects relating to the commerce and navigation within and about the state, and all work in any way relating thereto; c. Be charged with the enforcement of all laws relating to the powers and duties of the board and to the commerce and navigation of the state and also all rules and regulations made by the board; and d. Obtain, collect and preserve such information relating to the state's commerce and navigation and to the ways and means by which the same may be advanced, and also relating to the work of the department as may be useful in the discharge of his duties, or which may contribute to promote the interests of the state.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-18 Entry upon and survey of lands and waterways by director

The director and any person authorized by him so to do may, without fee or hindrance, enter upon, examine and survey all waterways, riparian lands and proposed waterways in and about the state.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-19 Oaths; examination of witnesses; subpoenas; penalty; perjury

The board by its presiding officer, each of its committees by the chairman thereof, and the director, may administer oaths and examine witnesses in any part of the state in any matter relating to the powers and duties of the department, and to the commerce and navigation of the state. For this purpose the board may issue subpoenas, signed by its president and secretary, requiring the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and papers in any part of the state before it, or before any of its committees, or before the director. Any person who, being served with a subpoena issued pursuant to the provisions of this section, shall fail to attend or give testimony unless such testimony incriminate him or subject him to fine or punishment, shall be liable to a penalty of five hundred dollars for each offense, to be recovered in the name of the state of New Jersey; said penalty, when recovered, to be paid into the treasury of the state. The attorney general shall prosecute any and all actions for the recovery of penalties under this section when requested so to do, and when, in his judgment, the facts and the law so warrant. Any person who, having been sworn by the presiding officer of the board, or the chairman of any of its committees, or by the director, willfully gives false testimony shall be guilty of perjury.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-20 Codification of laws of each division

The heads or chiefs of the several subdepartments shall codify the laws relating to or concerning their respective departments. Such codification shall set forth, in a clear and comprehensive manner, the act creating the department, followed, in their proper order, by all existing amendatory and supplementary acts relating to the consolidation of the department with any other board, commission or department. Said codification shall be continued from year to year.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-21 Acquisition of land for New Jersey ship canal; donation to federal government

The board may purchase or acquire by gift, grant, or by condemnation, for the purpose of furthering the commercial interests of this state, lands not to exceed one thousand feet in width from Raritan bay, at Morgan, in the county of Middlesex, across the state to the Delaware river, at Bordentown, in the county of Burlington, as shown on a route upon map of United States, intercoastal waterway, Boston, Massachusetts, Beaufort inlet, North Carolina division, New York bay, Delaware river section, and on file in the office of the board, or upon any other route, if in the judgment of the board deviation of said route shall be advisable. After the acquisition of said land, the board may donate so much thereof to the federal government for the construction of a ship canal as the federal government shall deem necessary and advisable.

N.J. Stat. § 12:2-22 Preservation of Barnegat lighthouse

The board may acquire from the federal government, by gift, grant, purchase or in any other lawful manner, the Barnegat lighthouse and curtilage, situate near Barnegat City, and provide for the preservation of the same.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026