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

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 […]

Timothy Petrick – Crescent City, CA

I’ve been with Crescent City Harbor District for about 10 months now. I’ve been Harbormaster/CEO since February 2021. Before that I was Harbormaster of Richmond Yacht Club and at sea […]

Mark Campbell – Jamestown, RI

Jamestown, RI Harbormaster Mark Campbell is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Captain with extensive seagoing experience. Captain Campbell served in six cutters, and commanded three of them; an 82 foot […]

Samantha Parker - Harbormaster, Sandwich, MA

Samantha Parker – Sandwich, MA

I am still relatively new to this department but love the staff and slip holders that I have the pleasure of working with. Coming from being a cadet at Mass […]

Robert Ganem – Somerset, MA

Robert “Buster” Ganem has been working tirelessly for the boating community in Somerset, MA since 1991. Ensuring safety and fun on the local waters. He is also an Hero, in […]

Captain Rick Brass – Washington, NC

I am the dockmaster at the Washington Waterfront Docks, a municipal marina on the Pamlico River about 25 SM west of the ICW in North Carolina. Washington is a friendly […]

Rick Brass – Washington, NC

I’ve been a sailor since my Grandfather and I built my first boat 56 years ago. After a career in engineering and marketing, I retired early to go cruising. I […]

Don Procko – Mystic, CT

I retired after 35 years as a public school “shop”teacher, a job I loved. After serving on the Harbor Management Commission, I became Harbor Master of Mystic (Stonington and Groton) […]

Ed Cabral – Warren, RI

I started as the Warren HARBORMASTER in 2014. Served with the Rhode Island Environmental Police for 32 years retiring as a Lieutenant in my prior employment. I have lived in […]

Kim Czapla – Hartford, CT

Hi! I’m the Harbor Master Program Administrator for the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. We provide regulatory oversight, support and technical training to our Harbor Masters. […]

Dana B. Rice Sr. – Gouldsboro, ME

I’ve been Gouldsboro’s Harbormaster for more than 40 years. Gouldsboro has six harbors and several anchorage areas. We have approximately 175 moorings for mostly commercial boats, but also pleasure boats. […]

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. […]