National Harbormaster Appreciation Day | Thank your harbormaster!

Celebrate Your Harbormaster on 10/8/2024.
IDEAS FOR HOW TO CELEBRATE

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Coastal communities around the country celebrate their Harbormasters on Thursday, Oct. 8th!

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Harbormasters are the stewards of our harbors – the center of our coastal communities. They manage the overall ecosystem, including moorings and docks, harbor uses and harbor users, and interactions between local, state and federal government. Of all of our public stewards (police, EMT, fire etc.) these men and women receive the least recognition.

Harbormaster Appreciation Day* -- a day to honor our U.S. Harbormasters and the great work they do -- occurs annually on October 8th.

* National Harbormaster Appreciation Day is registered with the National Day Archive.

WHAT DO HARBORMASTERS DO?

MEET OUR HARBORMASTERS

Eric Donch -- Harbormaster, Stonington, CT

Eric Donch – Stonington, CT

See Weather Forecasts, Marine Weather, Radar, and Harbor Information for Stonington, CT Submitted by Melanie Degler

Steve Adkins – Madison, CT

Over 60 years and counting on Madison Beach, gave me my love of the water and all things that float or swim in it. We don’t have much of a […]

Craig Stanton – Redondo Beach, FL

Craig Stanton, the harbormaster at the Redondo Beach Marina, exemplifies everything a professional harbormaster should be. He is knowledgeable, helpful, courteous and just salty enough to give a reassuring air […]

Vallejo Marina Team – Vallejo, CA

Jeffrey Cleary – Waterford, NY

I manage the Port of Waterford, New York for the Town of Waterford, New York. We are located 42-47′-14″ N/ 73-40′-45″ W. We stand in front of Lock E2, the […]

Beth Bellis, Harbormaster in Annapolis, MD

Beth Bellis – Annapolis, MD

I have been the Harbormaster in the City of Annapolis for three years. Prior to this, I spent 20 years working as a Natural Resources Police Officer for Maryland. I […]

Scott Bearhope – River Dunes, NC

“You can rest assured your boat is in good hands at River Dunes. Marina is clean and maintained in pristine condition. Harbormaster Bearhope is attentive to details and responsive to […]

Aerial view of Norwalk Harbor in Connecticut. Submitted by B. Lavallo

Bruce Lovallo – Norwalk, CT

I started as Norwalk’s Deputy Harbormaster 2018, and was appointed Harbormaster in 2021. My responsibilities include overseeing moorings and various projects impacting the harbor. I retired after 24yr career in […]

Kristin Forster -- Harbormaster in Port Austin, MI

Kristin Forster – Port Austin, MI

I have worked as the Harbormaster at Port Austin State harbor since June 2020. Before taking over as harbor master I worked as a summer worker at local state park. […]

Bridgeport, CT Harbormaster Boat. Submitted by R. Conrad.

Ryan Conrad – Bridgeport, CT

I started out as the Assistant Harbormaster in 2010 and was appointed Harbormaster in 2015. The city has 5 ports, 11 marinas and 150 municipal moorings. There are 3 ferries […]

Kate McConville – New Shoreham, RI

I was hired as Block Island’s first female Harbormaster in 2020. The Great Salt Pond is a super popular destination along the New England coast. We have 90 transient rental […]

Paul Blank – Newport Harbor, CA

I have been part of the Newport Harbor community since I completed City of Newport Beach Recreation Department sailing lessons as a child. That early introduction to sailing has led […]