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

Thorne Bay Marina at Sunset. Submitted by J. Aaro

Jacob Aaro – Thorne Bay, AK

I just started as Harbormaster this year. I have 2 harbors to maintain with about 170 slips containing, commercial fish boats, pleasure boats, floatplanes and floathouses. Thorne Bay is extremely […]

William Cavill – Menominee, MI

I have been the Harbor Master at the Menominee Marina for the last nineteen years. During my last fifty six years on the water I have done Marine Law Enforcement […]

Dave Crocker, Harbormaster in Waterford, CT. Image by J. Hughes.

David Crocker – Waterford, CT

David Crocker is the Harbormaster for Waterford, CT. He is also Vice President of Crocker’s Marina and Boat Yard, the largest boat yard in the Thames River. Dave’s responsibilities include […]

Katherine Pickering, Harbormaster in Belfast, ME

Katherine Pickering – Belfast, ME

I’ve always felt fortunate to work on Belfast Harbor. I started in 1989 at a local boatyard before being appointed as Harbor Master for the City of Belfast in 1993 […]

Wayne Johnson – Milwaukee, WI

I’ve been the harbormaster since 2010. The Port of Milwaukee is a department of the city of Milwaukee municipality. Currently have 40 years in city employment. Port Milwaukee is a […]

Larry Powers – Winthrop, MA

Harbormaster for 4 years. Retired Fire Chief from Winthrop. Submitted by L. Powers

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 […]

Matthew Creswell -- Harbormaster in Juneau, Alaska

Matthew Creswell – Juneau, AK

Matt Creswell has served as the Juneau, Alaska Harbormaster since March of 2020. Matt’s primary responsibilities include: Managing the operation of four small boat harbors (1250 slips), seven launch ramp […]

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pleasure_Pier_in_Galveston,_Texas.jpg

Jacob O’Kelley – Galveston, TX

I am the Senior Harbormaster for the Galveston Wharves (Port of Galveston – Port Authority). I have been in the Operations Department/Harbormaster’s role since June of 2018. Prior to this […]

Edward Finlay – Shark River Municipal Marina, NJ

I have been the Harbor Master here at the Shark River Municipal Marina since 2012. Soon after I took over, Super Storm Sandy showed up and decimated my property. It […]

Thomas Ciarametaro – Gloucester, MA

I have been the Harbormaster for 3 years for the City of Gloucester. Before that, I was Active Duty USCG for 11 years and still continue to serve in the […]

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 […]