Westport News

   Harbor Master
    P.O. BOX 337
    WESTPORT, MA  02791
    TELEPHONE: 508-636-1105
    Fax: 508-636-1147

All mooring owners and users of the waterways are responsible for reading and obeying the Waterways Regulations.
 

The purpose of the regulations is to standardize mooring practices and behavior within the waterways to fully utilize the area in the Westport Rivers, while implementing uniform safety practices.  Also to provide adequate space for all types of recreational usage.

Copies of these regulations are available from the Harbor Master or from the Town Clerk.

A.    "Mooring Areas" shall mean those portions of the Westport Waters which shall be designated
        as such by the Board of Selectmen and the Harbor Master.

B.    "Registered Owner" shall mean the holder of a mooring space assigned to him by the Mooring
        Assignment Committee and the Harbor Master.

C.    "Mooring Assignment Committee" shall consist of the Harbor Master, Shellfish Warden, one
        member of the Harbor Advisory Committee, and a Member of the Board of Selectmen.

D.    “Commercial Mooring" shall mean any permanent mooring placed in the Westport Waters for
         which a rental fee may be charged. They shall only be granted to marine service businesses.

E.    "Private Mooring" shall mean any permanent mooring placed in the Westport Waters for the
        owner’s private use.

F.    "Mooring Year" will date annually from April 1st through March 31st, and is the period for which
        mooring space is assigned.

G.    "Yearly Waiting List" All new Mooring permits shall be filed with the Harbor Master.  The
        Mooring Assignment Committee shall, upon available space, assign the owner a mooring
        space. If space is unavailable,  the committee will assign the applicant to the Harbor Master
        to a "Yearly Waiting List".   All new applications shall be added to this list in order received.
        Upon availability of space, the committee will assign moorings based on the order of this list.
        As of April 1st 1998 all applicants on the Mooring Yearly Waiting List must reapply before April
        1st of each year to remain active on the Yearly Waiting List. The Mooring Assignment
        Committee will determine available space.

H.    "Docked Boats" shall mean any boat that is tied to a dock, pier, slip, clothesline system or
        placed on a beach below the high water mark, within the Westport Waters of areas A, B, & C
        or not registered under the mooring regulations.

                                                                                                     
I.    "Marina" shall mean any facility, which provides dockage or berthing for more than five (5)
        boats that are not registered to the facility owner.

J.      “Harbor Master” as appointed per CH 102 M.G.L. (Mass. General Laws).

K.     “Personal Watercraft means a small vessel which uses an inboard motor powering a water jet
         pump as it’s primary source of motive power, and which is designed to be operated by
         persons sitting, standing or kneeling on the vessel.  This term includes but is not limited to a
         jet ski, wet bike, or subject, so called.”

1.    No mooring shall be placed In the Westport Rivers (areas A, B, & C) unless they are in
       compliance with these regulations.

3.    An identification sticker will be issued to each registered mooring holder upon receipt of the            annual registration fee.  This sticker must be attached to the outside of the hull of the boat,        aft on the port side.  Failure to display said sticker will result in a $25.00 fine and/or subject            the owner to revocation of his mooring registration.

A.    All Moorings shall be registered with the Harbor Master each year.  The registration period for
       any year shall end at 12:00 noon, April 1. Any moorings not registered before this time may
       be canceled and the mooring space allocated to the Yearly Waiting List.
B.    Mooring Fee, Dockage Fee and Transient Fees:  The mooring, dock and commercially rented
       transient mooring fees shall be per/foot as determined annually by the Board of Selectmen by
       March 1 of each year.  Boats 10 feet and under are exempt.

C.    A mooring location is transferable only on the approval of the Mooring Assignment Committee
       and current owners of moorings shall have preference over the Yearly Waiting List.  Transfers
       should be filed with the Harbor Master.

D.    Owners who register moorings that are lost or are not usable in their present state, shall have         their registrations voided and not renewed.  Any mooring that is not visible by August 1st             shall be considered abandoned, unless recently lost, and the space allocated to those on the         Yearly Waiting List.

E.    No private mooring may be rented, sold or transferred without prior written permission of the            Mooring Assignment Committee.  Any private mooring owner who has not used his mooring            after one mooring year will forfeit his mooring location.

F.    Boat owners failing to pay excise tax on their boats shall be liable for loss of mooring and or       dockage privileges and/or removed from same at boat owner's expense.

G.    The Harbor Master may permit temporary use of the mooring upon application of the owner.        Temporary means to the end of the calendar year.

H.    No vessel shall occupy a mooring for which it is not registered without advance permission of        the mooring owner and Harbor Master.  The Harbor Master has the authority to move any                vessel violating the provisions of these regulations, and such movement shall be at the risk            and expense of the owner.  At no time should any vessel be tied to a mooring inconsistent            with the mooring tackle regulations.

I.    No more than two vessels may be rafted at any time.  The raft must have a qualified operator       on board at all times.

J.    Assignment of mooring space shall be made by the Mooring Assignment Committee. At such       time as a mooring space shall become available in Westport Harbor, the committee shall               assign the space to the first person on the list provided the vessel fits within the space                   available.   The Mooring Assignment Committee will maintain this list.  If the vessel is too           large the assignment will be made to the first vessel on the list that will fit in the mooring               space.

K.    No mooring shall be set within the marked navigable channels nor shall any part of any vessel        moored obstruct said channels.  Any vessel not in compliance shall be moved by the Harbor        Master at the owner's risk and expense.

L.     No Mooring, after being set, shall be moved or in any way changed or sold without the                    approval of the Harbor Master.

M.    Owners of moorings are forbidden to change the size of a boat on their mooring without                 advanced approval of the Harbor Master.

N.    No private mooring/owner shall permit the temporary use of his mooring without advanced            notice to the Harbor Master.            

 0.    Commercial mooring and Marina owners shall provide to the Harbor Master by July 1st of                 each year, an alphabetical list of the current renters of moorings and slips to include: name         of boat owner, name of boat, type, year, and length of vessel, registration or documentation         numbers, town where excise tax is paid, private and business address and phone numbers of         renters.  The Harbor Master shall send a copy of this information to the Westport tax                     assessors.

P.    Each mooring buoy shall be colored white with a horizontal blue stripe surrounding the middle        and marked with the mooring registration number in (3) three inch numbers, (boat name is            optional).

Q.    Moorings that are not properly marked as stated are subject to removal at the owner's risk            and expense.

R.    Winter logs with mooring permit number marked on it shall be removed by June 1st  of each        year and not set before October 1st  of each year.  Those logs not removed by June 1st shall        be considered a menace to navigation and may be removed by the Harbor Master with no            addition of a floating buoy.

S.    The Registered Owner shall be required to maintain his mooring in safe condition.  Any chain,        shackle, swivel or other tackle which has become warped or worn by one-third its normal                diameter, shall be replaced.

T.    Failure to maintain a safe mooring hereunder shall be cause for revocation by the Harbor                Master.  The Harbor Master and his designated agents may inspect any mooring at any time        to determine compliance with this section.

U.    No commercial moorings shall be placed in area "C" of the Westport Waterways.

V.    The Harbor Master may in any emergency situation or situation requiring immediate attention        take any action regarding these regulations which shall be temporary until the Mooring                Assignment Committee meets at which meeting the Mooring Assignment Committee shall            affirm, modify or rescind the action.

W.    Boats over ten (10) feet in length that are docked at commercial or private facilities in the             Westport waters of areas A, B, & C shall be registered with the Harbor Master by July I of each         year.  All new registrations shall be by August 1.

W-1  An identification sticker shall be issued upon registration and should be applied as per                 mooring regulations.  Anyone failing to display said sticker properly, aft on the port-outside,         shall be subject to penalties and fines under paragraph A of “Enforcement and Fines.”

W-2  Any boat that is docked or moored in a private dock or slip without the written permission of         the owner shall be subject to a $50.00 fine and removal by the Harbor Master or his agent at         the boat owner's expense.
                                                                                                                                          

A.    Speed in all mooring areas - No boat shall operate at a speed greater than headway speed            which shall cause a wash or wake that may endanger other property or life.

B.    Waterways Sections -

        Section A - an area of the West Branch of the Westport Rivers that begins at a line drawn             from Canoe Rock to Point Bial and all areas North.
        Section B - an area from the Nubble and south of Section A to boat ramp at Point Bridge (Rte.         88).
        Section C - An area from Point Bridge including all of the East Branch of the Westport River to         the Narrows North of Donovan's Lane.

C.    Water Skiing - Water skiing is prohibited in Section B of the Westport Waterways and any                 concentrated mooring areas.

D.    Personal Watercraft and Water Skiing- as herein before permitted is subject to the provisions        of Chapter 90B of the Massachusetts General Laws and to the further restriction that there            shall be no personal watercraft operation or water skiing within four hundred (400) feet of            bathers, divers, piers, wharves,floats, moored boats or any shore unless at “headway speed"        or within a marked channel.  “Water-skiing” shall include motor-propelled surfboards and                waterbikes and the towing or manipulation of a surfboard or other similar devices  behind a            motorboat.  In accordance with 323CMR4:00, towing behind a personal watercraft is strictly            prohibited.  Water skiing and personal watercraft operation shall only occur in approved areas.         No personal watercraft operation or water skiing activity shall occur between the hours of                sunset and sunrise.

E.    Fishing - All vessels shall use care and courtesy when passing under Point Bridge or by boats        where people are fishing.  No fishing is allowed over main channel from any bridge.

F.    Wind Surfing - Windsurfers are not to operate in the Main Channels of Section B or in                    concentrated Mooring Areas.  Free access across the channel at any point is permitted but            repeated crossings will not be permitted.

G.    Navigational Aids - No vessel shall tie to any navigational channel markers within the Westport        Waterways.

H.    Diving From Point Bridge (Rte.88) shall be prohibited.

I.    Pollution - The discharge of sewage, garbage, rubbish or other debris from boats on the               Westport Waterways is prohibited.

J.    Liquor - No persons shall operate any vessel on the Waterways of Westport while they are               under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic drug, barbiturate or marijuana.

K.    Negligent Operation - No persons shall operate any vessel on the Waterways of Westport or            manipulate any water skis, sailboats, surfboards, personal watercraft or similar device thereon        in a negligent manner so that the lives or safety of the public might be endangered.

 L.    Reporting Accidents - All boating accidents occurring in Westport Waters, where damage                exceeds $100.00 or results in a death, missing person or requires medical treatment more            than first aid, shall be reported to the Harbor Master and to:

Massachusetts Environmental Police              OR                 MEP Communications Center
        175 Portland Street                                                         175 Portland Street
         Boston, MA 02114                                                           Boston, MA 02114
         Tel. (617)727-3905                                                       Tel.#(617)727-6398

M.    Scuba Diving - Diving and snorkeling are prohibited in the Westport Waters within 50 feet of            any marked Channel.  Divers must display all state and Coast Guard regulated devices.

A.    Whoever violates any of the provisions of these Waterways Regulations, or refuses or                    neglects to obey the lawful and reasonable orders of those empowered to enforce the same,        or resists them in the discharge of there duties, shall be fined not less than fifty dollars                ($50.00) for the first violation and not more than three hundred dollars ($300.00) for each            violation thereafter within the same calendar year.  Where a vessel is or has been operated in        violation of any provisions of the Waterways Regulations and the owner, operator or other            responsible person cannot be found within a twenty-four-hour period or where it appears that        the vessel and the person in violation will depart from the town in order to avoid the                    enforcement of the penalties of these regulations, the Harbor Master may seize said vessel as        security and may move it to a safe place of storage, including dry land storage, until the                violation has been disposed of administratively or judicially, and if a violation has been found,        the cost of seizing and holding said vessel shall be assessed against the vessel. and the                vessel shall be sold at a public auction to pay such penalties and costs if not otherwise paid.         If said auction produces surplus proceeds after payment of penalties and costs, said surplus        shall be held in a separate account and be paid over to the owner of the vessel upon proof of        such ownership.

 B.    The provisions of the Westport Non-Criminal Disposition by-law and M.G.L. Chapter 40,                 Section 21D shall apply to violations of these regulations.

C.    The regulations may be enforced by the Harbor Master, any assistant or deputy Harbor                Masters, any police officer or any other agent or person appointed by the Board of Selectmen.