Thursday, May 16, 2019
NEWPORT, R.I. – With boating season just around the corner, the City’s Harbormaster’s Office is rolling out a new dinghy permitting program designed to help reduce the number of unattended vessels at the King Park Stone Pier. Earlier this month, the City Council gave their approval to a new dinghy permitting program intended to reduce the number of unattended vessels at the Stone Pier and to provide smaller vessel owners a place in the harbor. “We recognize that simply getting out on the water – even if it’s just on a small tender – is an important source of enjoyment for many longtime residents,” said Harbormaster Tim Mills. “We want to make sure that all boaters are able to safely enjoy the harbor – regardless of the size of their boat.” During the summer, it’s not uncommon to see Newporters take to the water in smaller vessels that might not be big enough to put on a mooring. However, in recent years, it’s also become common to find smaller vessels tied up two or three deep at the City’s Stone Pier dinghy dock at King Park. While the popularity of the dinghy dock is simply an inconvenience for some boaters, for others, it can pose a real safety concern. The new Stone Pier Dinghy Dock permit program is designed to help alleviate some of those concerns. Under the program, the Stone Pier Dinghy Dock will remain available to any vessel no greater than twelve (12) feet, however anyone wishing to leave a dinghy overnight at the dock will be required to have a sticker issued by the Harbormaster’s Office. Any Newport resident with or without a mooring permit is welcome to apply for a sticker in person at the Harbormaster’s Office, located at 39 Americas Cup Ave. Anchorage users may hail the Harbormaster on VHF Channel 16 and request a sticker from the patrol boats. All private or commercial mooring permit holders will also require a sticker from the Harbormaster’s Office in order to tie up. While there is no fee for mooring permit holders or anchorage users, resident non-mooring permit holders should be prepared to submit proof of residency in the form of either a Newport voter registration card, or R.I. Driver’s License with Newport address, along with a $50 annual sticker fee. Additionally, all applicants must submit a copy of state issued boat registration for the dinghy with the application form. If you have any questions regarding the new program, please contact the Newport Harbormaster at 401-845-5815 or email at tmills@cityofnepwort.com or smariani@cityofnewport.com. ###