Use the link below for any emails relating to Harbor Master business.
harbormaster@portsmouthri.com

The Harbor Master for the Portsmouth Police Department is Officer Jacob Silva, a full time police officer who patrols the waters that surround the town.  The assistant Harbor Master is Detective Scott Travers. 

The Harbor Master handles the assignment of moorings throughout the town, including Prudence & Hog Islands.  There are approximately 1500 moorings in the Town of Portsmouth.  With over 50 miles of shoreline, Portsmouth has the most shoreline of any town in the state which includes patrolling Prudence, Patience and Hog Island’s.

All residents in the town are required to have their boats registered to their Portsmouth address to qualify for resident status.  Renewal emails/mailing will be sent January 15^th of each year.  It is required that your mooring be renewed annually no later than March 15^th or a late fee will be assessed.  There is a $5 administration fee assessed to ALL mooring holders for each mooring, including residents, this fee pay’s for the online permit program.  Please go to the mooring website to apply, renew or to be placed on a waiting list.  You can upload your documents and photos if you like rather than mail them and pay online utilizing the secure website; this is the preferred method of payment.  If you choose to mail in the application rather than utilizing the online payment method, please mail the downloaded application form from http://permits.onlinemooring.com/PortsmouthRI/.  Any incomplete paperwork or failure to renew on time will result in a late fee.

The Harbor Master, as well as other police officers, patrols the many areas of town waters and issues fines for violations committed per Title 46-4-6.13 and the Town of Portsmouth Ordinance.  Some fines are the No Wake zones in the Sakonnet River Basin (Tiverton Basin), Can 17 to Stone Bridge, Blue Bell Cove and Potter’s Cove.  Lists of these fines are available at the State of RI website if you have any questions or need to refer to a violation you've received.  Title 46 - Index of Chapters

Currently there is a waiting list for Sandy Point Beach, Blue Bell Cove in Portsmouth (Sakonnet River Basin) and Potter’s Cove at Prudence Island.  To be placed on the waiting list please log in to the mooring website and apply for a new permit, I will then place you on the waiting list that you may view at any time.  If your contact numbers change for any reason, please update your application data or you will be at risk of losing your position on the list.

There are no public moorings in Potter’s Cove, or any other locations in Portsmouth.  All moorings in Potter’s Cove are privately owned.  There is a $100.00 fine for being on  another person’s mooring without authorization.  Boaters are permitted to anchor within the cove provided they stay well aware of moorings and vessels on moorings.

Click here to see a list of vendors who sell, install, and service moorings in Portsmouth waters.  The Portsmouth Police Department does not recommend any one vendor over another, and does not guarantee any work performed by the vendors on the list.  The list is provided as an aid to persons who are seeking assistance in installing and/or servicing their moorings.