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

Tom Bell – Darien, CT

I am the volunteer Harbormaster for the 7 harbors in our town. I’ve been the Harbormaster for 9 years. One of the best parts of my job is helping people […]

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 […]

Bill Draughon – Aventura, FL

I have been the Marina Director for 37 years. I have always been working on boats or in the marina my whole career. We have a beautiful 80 acre residential […]

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 […]

Thomas Phillips – Eliot, ME

I have been Deputy Harbormaster since 2014 for the Eliot shoreline and we have 184 moorings. I have known the Piscataqua River since 1975 and am an avid fisherman. Submitted […]

Harbor of Escanaba, MI. Submitted by S. Sanville.

Shayne Sanville – Escanaba, MI

I have been the Harbor Master at the beautiful Escanaba Marina tucked away in Little Bay De Noc for four years now. Before becoming Harbor Master I managed the family […]

Shawn Herbert – Naples, ME

Appointed Harbor Master in January of 2019, I had been Deputy Harbor Master since 2012 and a Marine Patrol Officer since 2010. Naples is a very unique in nature. Similar […]

Steve Melo - Harbormaster in Dartmouth, MA

Steve Melo – Padanaram, MA

I’ve served as the Padanaram / Dartmouth Harbormaster since 2004, and also as the Town’s Shellfish Officer since 2012. Prior to this calling, I was a seasonal Assistant Harbormaster for […]

Capt. Denver Sanner, Harbormaster in Gibson Island, MD

Capt. Denver Sanner – Gibson Island, MD

I have been the harbormaster at Gibson Island Club & Yacht Squadron for over 35 years. We are located on the Chesapeake Bay North of the Bay Bridge. We are […]

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 […]

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 […]

Captain Jim Suber, Dockmaster, Jacksonville, FL

Captain Jim Suber – Jacksonville, FL

I am the Waterways Coordinator/Dock Master for the City of Jacksonville. After 32 years in Law Enforcement (including Marine Enforcement) I retired, and was offered this position in September 2006. We […]