Contact:
Stuart F.X. Smith, Harbormaster
Susan Rocanello, Office Mgr./Asst. Harbormaster
Wayne Julin, Mooring Officer/Asst. HM
Lee
Tallman, Wharfinger/Asst. HM
Mailing Address: Chatham Town Hall, 549 Main Street, Chatham,
MA 02633
Physical location: 613 Stage Harbor Rd., Chatham, MA 02633
Hours: M - F 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Please call first
508-945-5185/5186
(Sorry,
the town does not have email addresses yet!)
MISSION STATEMENT
Revised
The Harbormaster's Department directs, coordinates, and is
responsible for all the navigable waterways of the town of
Chatham and other areas as required or deemed necessary. ÊIt
ensures that all waterways and town owned waterfront facilities
are used in a safe, environmentally friendly and lawful manner.
It is the lead agency for maritime enforcement for the waterways
of the Town of Chatham, and provides navigational assistance
to the users of Chatham waterways and harbors. This is accomplished
through applicable legal authority and public education.
Major
functions include the following:
AIDS
TO NAVIGATION: ÊThe department installs and maintains
all town
owned Aids to Navigation, and ensures that they are properly
licenced by U.S. Coast Guard.
MUNICIPAL
FISH PIER: Operates and maintains the municipal off-loading
fish pier at Aunt Lydia's Cove.
ASSISTING
MARINERS: ÊResponds to mariners in need of assistance and
provides assistance to other Town Department and the U.S. Coast
Guard in responding vessels & people in distress, search
and rescue, or other marine related incidents.
POLLUTION
PREVENTION AND RESPONSE: ÊResponds to all pollution incidents
occurring on the waters of Chatham as appropriate; operates
and maintains all town owned marine pump-out facilities.
ENFORCEMENT:
Enforces Êprovisions
of Chatham waterways bylaws, and Massachusetts General Laws
(MGL) pertaining to harbors, docks, piers, wharfs and waterways,
specifically Chapters 90B, 91, 102, 266 and other appropriate
state Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMRs).
MOORING
PERMITTING AND OVERSIGHT: Issues and reviews mooring permits
each year and enforces all mooring regulations.
MITCHELL
RIVER BRIDGE: Operates and maintains the Mitchell River
drawbridge.
TOWN
LANDINGS: Assists with the operation and maintenance of all
town landings and waterfront dependant town owned properties.
Last
Updated by the Town of Chatham, MA :
Monday, February 28, 2005
TOWN
OF CHATHAM
HARBORMASTER
REGULATIONS FOR
MOORING, MOORING PERMITS and ANCHORING
§1001
Authority and enforcement
(a) These regulations are adopted by the Harbormaster pursuant
to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapters 90B, 91 and 102, Commonwealth
of Massachusetts Regulations Chapter 310, Section 9.07 and
Chapter 35 of the Town of Chatham General Bylaws.
(b) The Harbormaster and/or Assistant Harbormasters have the
authority to enforce all regulations set forth herein.
§1002
Definitions
The following words, for the purposes of these regulations,
unless another meaning is clearly apparent for the way the
word is used, have the following meanings:
“berth” means
any space wherein a vessel is confined by wet slip, float,
mooring, or other type of docking facility.
“boatyard” means
a facility whose function is the construction, repair, or
maintenance of vessels, which may include provisions for
vessel storage and docking while awaiting service.
“channel’ means
a navigable route for the passage of vessels, established
by customary use or under the authority of federal, state
or municipal law.
“environmentally sensitive resource area” means
those areas specifically defined by the Department of Coastal
Resources in conjunction with the Shellfish Department. The
locations of all such areas shall be designated using accepted
scientific criteria, described in writing, defined using GPS
or other acceptable method and receive final approval from
and be filed with the Office of the Harbormaster.
“Harbormaster” means
the duly appointed Harbormaster or Assistant Harbormaster.
“length” means
the straight line measurement of the overall length from
the foremost part of the vessel to
the aftermost part of the vessel, measured parallel to the
centerline, exclusive of bow sprits, bumpkins, rudders, outboard
motor brackets, and similar fittings or attachments.
“marina” means
a berthing area with docking facilities under common ownership
or control and with berths for ten or more vessels, including
commercial marinas, boat basins, and yacht clubs. A marina
may be an independent facility or may be associated with
a boatyard.
“mooring tackle” means
the anchor(s), chain(s), hawser(s), bridle(s) and so forth,
used to secure a vessel.
“person” means
any individual, partnership, trust, firm, corporation, association,
commission, district, department, board municipality, public
or quasi-public agency or authority.
“private recreational boating facility” means
a facility for berthing of recreational vessels at which all
berths and accessory uses thereto are not available for patronage
by the general public, or where exclusive use of any such berth
is available on a long-term basis. Such berths shall not include
a berth reserved for the operator of said facility.
“qualified person” means
an individual who has received written approval to inspect
moorings from the Harbormaster. The Office of the Harbormaster
shall maintain a list of qualified mooring inspectors.
“vessel” means
every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on
the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation
on the water.
“other object” means
any floating object, including but not limited to floats
or rafts, storage cars for marine products, secured by anchors
or bottom moorings.
§1003
Applicability (These
regulations apply to all )
Moorings tackle in the waters of the Town of Chatham including
fresh water ponds
Vessels or other objects anchored or moored on the waters
of the Town of Chatham, including fresh water ponds.
MOORING PERMITS
§1004
All vessels required to have mooring permit
(a) All vessels berthed for two consecutive weeks or more
on the waters of Chatham (including fresh water ponds) shall
obtain a mooring permit from the Harbormaster.
Other objects, including, but not limited to, floats or rafts
attached to ground tackle shall obtain an independent permit
for the mooring(s).
Boats
secured to a permitted moored float shall have a “boat
only” mooring permit.
Mooring permits are issued annually and expire on December
31st of the calendar they are issued.
A private mooring permit shall not be transferred, except
to a member within the immediate family with the written approval
of the Harbormaster.
§1005
Obtaining a new mooring permit
A person desiring assignment of a new mooring location and
issuance of a new mooring permit shall:
(a)
Complete an “Town of Chatham Mooring Application” provided
by the Office of the Harbormaster.
The
Harbormaster must approve and sign the “Application.”
In
order to receive a mooring permit the applicant must present
the “Application” and pay the appropriate fee to
receive a mooring permit. [See below for fees.]
Failure to complete the steps above shall result in rejection
and return of the application, or invalidate a permit.
If
there is no berth available in the area requested, the applicant
may request to be placed on the “waiting list” for
the desired mooring location. [See below for “waiting
list” procedures.]
§1006
Renewal of an existing permit
A
mooring permit holder will receive annually a “Mooring
Permit Renewal” form from the Office of the Harbormaster.
(a)
The mooring permit holder who wishes to renew the permit
shall –
(1) Ensure that the information on the form is accurate and that all requested
information is complete;
(2) Provide copies of boat registration or documentation as requested; and
(3) Return the form to the Office of the Harbormaster with the required annual
fee between 1 January and 31 March.
(b) A permit holder who does not wish to renew the permit
should so indicate on the renewal form and return the form
to the Office of the Harbormaster.
(c)
Renewal of a mooring permit may be denied if the permit holder
is delinquent in the payment of any local taxes, fees, assessments,
betterments or any other municipal charges in accordance with
the Town of Chatham General Bylaw, Chapter 23, Section 23007.
(d)
A person who fails to renew a mooring permit by 31 August
shall forfeit the mooring location and the associated mooring
permit.
MOORING FEES
§ 1007
Mooring fees
The
following fees shall apply to all vessels, moorings or other
objects, both public and private, moored on waters of the
Town of Chatham. The fees are for all vessels on moorings,
slips, docks, or floats and apply to both commercial and recreational
vessels, and facilities.
§1008
Mooring tackle specifications
(a) Substitutions of similarly sized mooring anchors is not
permitted without the approval of the Harbormaster.
The tackle specifications
outlined below are minimum standards and are not designed
to meet severe conditions. If severe weather is predicted,
the prudent mariner should take additional measures, including
the removal of the vessel from the water.
Construction of mooring blocks shall be approved by the Harbormaster.
Concrete blocks 1000 lbs and over shall be steel-reinforced.
Hairpins shall be 25% heavier than required chain.
Size equivalents for concrete blocks:
150
LB.= 18"X18"X 6" 1000 LB.= 28"X28"X18"
300 LB.= 18"X18"X12" 2000 LB.= 36"X36"X18"
500 LB.= 22"X22"X12" 4000 LB.= 48"X48"X21"
6000 LB.= 48"X48"X31"
Length of chain shall be at least three (3) feet longer than
the depth of water at mean high water where the mooring
is located.
(f)
Total length of chain and pennant – shall be equal
to at least 3-times the depth of water at Mean High Water (MHW)
where the mooring is located, but shall not be more than 4-times
the depth of water at MHW without permission of the Harbormaster.
Mooring pennants (hawsers) shall be three strand-nylon or
equivalent, shall not float, shall be fitted with thimbles
of appropriate size where they are attached to chain or metal
fittings, shall be shackled directly to the chain, and shall
be equipped with adequate chaffing gear where they pass through
chocks or hawse holes.
Length
of Mooring pennants (hawsers) shall be 2 ½ times
the distance from the waterline to top of the stem, plus the
distance to the deck cleat.
Shackles shall be at same size as the chain or larger.
Swivels, if used, shall be one size larger than the chain
to which they are connected.
Shackles and swivels shall be safety wired or welded to prevent
loosening.
Screw anchors shall be installed by a licensed installer
certified by the anchor manufacturer and approved by the Harbormaster.
Location of all permanent mooring anchors, including blocks,
shall be assigned by the Harbormaster, and exact latitude /
longitude positions, using GPS or other approved system, must
be obtained and recorded during the installation, and provided
to the Harbormaster.
No
new concrete blocks are permitted in protected areas. Existing
blocks will be replaced with alternative systems through attrition.
All concrete mooring blocks located within environmentally
sensitive resource areas shall be removed and replaced by an
approved alternative anchor within 5-years from the date the
areas is designated and approved by the Harbormaster.
All
mushroom anchors shall be equipped with an appropriately
sized shank weight to assist in the proper ‘setting’ of
the mooring.
(a) Mooring buoys shall be a white mooring ball with a blue
horizontal stripe.
(b) Winter spars shall –
(a) Be white in color with a blue band.
(b) Be upright at an angle of not less than forty-five (45)
degrees at any period of tide and have a minimum of 18 inches
exposed.
(c) Not be constructed of wood.
(d) Not be used between June 15th and October 1st.
(e) Be identified with the owners name and assigned mooring
permit number.
§1009
Identification of moorings
The last name of the owner / permit holder and the assigned
mooring permit number shall be permanently and legibly displayed
on the mooring buoy or winter spar in block characters (letters
and Arabic numerals) of at least one (1) inch in height and
must contrast in color with the background. [Beginning January
1999 all mooring permit number are permanently assigned. The
number will not change from year to year.]
§1010
Identification of vessels or other objects secured by mooring
tackle
Each vessel or other object attached to a mooring shall display
the current mooring permit sticker. The mooring sticker shall
be displayed in a visible location on the port (left) side
of the vessel.
If
not registered, owners of a sailing vessel may affix the
mooring permit sticker on the port side near the bottom of
the main mast
The numbers of the mooring tag and mooring sticker shall
be the same unless otherwise authorized by the Harbormaster.
§1011
Mooring inspection
All
moorings shall be inspected and approved by a qualified
person before being placed in service in the waters of the
Town of Chatham, including fresh water ponds.
All moorings and mooring tackle shall be inspected at least
once every two years by a qualified person.
The
Harbormaster may, at any time, inspect any mooring; and may
remove or cause to be removed any mooring that fails to meet
the provisions of these regulations or Town Bylaws.
§1012
Moving, relocating, removal of moorings
Moorings shall not be moved from an approved location without
the prior approval of the Harbormaster.
If for any reason the approved location of a mooring is not
adequate for the vessel, it shall be the responsibility of
the permit holder / owner to move the mooring, within ten (10)
days, to a new location approved by the Harbormaster.
In the event that a mooring is moved from its approved location
by storm, ice or other cause, it shall be the responsibility
of the permit holder / owner of the mooring to, at the earliest
possible opportunity, but in no case later than fourteen (14)
days from the date of the dislocation of the mooring is or
could be discovered, relocate the mooring to the location originally
approved, or to another location approved by the Harbormaster.
The Harbormaster may relocate, remove or cause to be removed
or relocated any mooring or vessel whenever, in their judgement,
the safety of other vessels or the maximum use of the area
requires such action.
Any expense of such inspection, removal or relocation and
any liability incurred therefore, shall be the responsibility
of the permit holder / owner of said mooring.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
§1013
Anchoring
Stage Harbor: Vessels may anchor, in Stage Harbor, on a temporary
basis only, in the area on the south side of the dredged
channel, west of Stage Harbor Buoy 8. In no case shall a
vessel anchor in the dredged channel. Vessels shall not anchor
in Stage Harbor in the inner harbor, east of Stage Harbor
Buoy 8, or in the area on the north side of the dredged channel,
west of Stage Harbor Buoy 8.
All other areas: Vessels may anchor with permission of the
Harbormaster, but shall not anchor in a mooring area or channel.
§1014 Transient / Temporary Permit Requirements
The owner of any vessel moored in an approved location for
a period of less than 2 weeks in the waters of Chatham shall
give notice to the Office of the Harbormaster as to length
of stay.
A marina, boatyard or sailing camp may move, for a period
of not to exceed two weeks, a properly permitted vessel among
or between moorings assigned to them provided such a change
is to a mooring of equivalent or greater capacity.
§1015 Rental of moorings
No person shall rent or lease a mooring unless authorized
by the Harbormaster.
A
commercial (rental) mooring shall have a “commercial
mooring permit” issued by the Office of the Harbormaster.
Violation of this regulation may result in the revocation
of the mooring permit, removal of the mooring, and non-criminal
citation and fines consistent with Chapter 35 of the Town of
Chatham General Bylaws.
§1016
Two year rule
When a permit holder / owner of a mooring discontinues the use of a mooring
for the vessel described in the mooring permit, the permit holder / owner may
retain the mooring location for a period not to exceed two (2) years, and the
mooring may be used by another vessel as prescribed below.
If after two (2) years the permit holder / owner does not
own a vessel requiring the mooring, the Harbormaster may reassign
the mooring location.
§1017
Moorings used by persons other than the permit holder.
At times when a mooring is not being used by the mooring permit holder / owner,
or when a mooring permit holder / owner has discontinued the use of a mooring
the mooring may be used by another vessel, provided prior approval is obtained
from both the permit holder / owner of the mooring and the Harbormaster subject
to the following provisions:
(1) When a mooring is used by a vessel owned and operated
by a person who is not the permit holder / owner of the mooring,
it shall be the responsibility of the owner / operator of said
vessel to maintain the mooring and leave it in the same condition
as when first used by him.
(2) If during the period of use by another vessel the mooring
is lost, dislocated or damaged, the owner / operator of the
vessel using the mooring shall be liable to the permit holder
/ owner of the mooring for a sum of money sufficient to recover,
restore, renew or relocate the mooring to the approved location,
and to the condition it was first used by him.
(3) In areas where there is an established waiting list for
mooring location assignment, the mooring permit holder shall
notify the Harbormaster, in writing, that the mooring is available.
The mooring shall be temporarily assigned to an individual
on the waiting list by the Harbormaster.
(4) The person using said mooring must submit all pertinent
information on the boat involved to the Office of the Harbormaster,
and shall pay the appropriate mooring fee.
(5) The user will receive a sticker to be placed on the port
(left) side of the vessel with the number corresponding to
the tag on the mooring buoy.
§1018
Waiting lists for mooring location assignment
(a) The Harbormaster will identify those locations which have
achieved maximum mooring saturation and establish a waiting
list for the issuance of mooring locations and permits for
those areas.
A
person desiring a mooring location in an area with a waiting
list shall complete a “Mooring Waiting List Application”,
and pay the initial fee.
The
Harbormaster shall enter the name of the individual and a
description of the vessel – chronological from the
date the application is received – on the waiting list
for the area requested.
A person shall not list more than two vessels on the waiting
list for a given area.
Annually, by 15 July of each year, the Harbormaster shall
post, at the Office of the Harbormaster and Office of the Assistant
Harbormaster / Wharfinger the current waiting list for each
area.
§1019
Assignment of mooring location in waiting list areas
When a mooring location becomes available, the Harbormaster
shall offer the site to the first individual on the waiting
list with a vessel appropriate for the site.
If the individual chooses not to accept the location, the
Harbormaster will contact the next appropriate vessel owner
and so forth until the space has been assigned.
§1020
Waiting list renewal and removal from list
Individuals
on the waiting list will receive a “Waiting
List Renewal” notice each year that must be returned
to the Office of the Harbormaster indicating an intent (or
not) to remain on the waiting list(s) and of any change in
the information contained in the original application.
The form must be returned by 1 March, with the appropriate
renewal fee. Failure to comply with these requirements may
result in removal from the waiting list.
An
applicant who has failed to respond by 1 March may petition
the Harbormaster’s for reinstatement. If reinstated the
person must pay the applicable late fees.
Any
person who fails to notify the Office of the Harbormaster by
30 June that they wish to remain on a waiting list and pay
the appropriate fees shall be removed from that waiting list.
§1021
Lost moorings.
In the event that a mooring is lost it shall be the responsibility
of the permit holder / owner to, at the earliest possible opportunity,
locate, mark and properly identify said lost mooring.
(b) If after six (6) months the permit holder / owner fails
to locate, mark and properly identify a lost mooring, he shall
relinquish the approved location, and the mooring may be removed
by the Harbormaster.
§1022
Penalties
The owner of any vessel, mooring or other object not properly
moored or not properly permitted, and anyone found in violation
of these rules and regulations, shall be liable to a non-criminal
citation not to exceed $200.00 per offense, removal of the
mooring, vessel, or all three.
§1024
Conformance with existing regulations
Nothing in the above regulations shall be construed as altering
in any way the content and meaning of provisions of Chapter
35 of the Town of Chatham Bylaws, State statute, or Code of
Massachusetts Regulations.
BY AUTHORITY OF THE HARBORMASTER
TOWN OF CHATHAM
Stuart F. X. Smith
Harbormaster
Last Updated by the
Town of Chatham - Monday, February 09, 2004
