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 […]

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 […]

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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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Travas Taylor – Lexington, MI

I’ve worked at Lexington State Harbor here in Michigan for three years now, and as harbormaster for two. I love the close-knit community where everyone is very friendly and willing […]

Mason Lemon – Shelter Cove Marina – Hilton Head, SC

Shelter Cove Marina Harbormaster, Mason Lemon, is an exceptional example of what customer service should look like. We continuously receive reviews from our guests about how he goes above and […]

Steve Hope, harbormaster in New Harbor, ME

Steve Hope – New Harbor, ME

“Steve Hope has been serving our community for years, and I personally think his experience and knowledge of the area and being on the water, combined with the history and […]

Mark Souza, Harbormaster in Marblehead, MA

Mark Souza – Marblehead, MA

I have been working for the town of Marblehead now since Feb. of 2017. I was the Deputy Harbor master for the Town of Beverly Ma. prior. I also worked […]

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 […]

Mario W. Bandeira -- Harbormaster, Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Mario W. Bandeira – Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

My name is Mario, I’m 62 years old, work with marina development and equipment’s (floating docks, boat hoist, forklift and others) here in Brazil for 22 years and as Senior […]

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. […]