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The Dartmouth Waterways Management Commission is responsible for regulating the safe allocation of the greatest number of accommodations within the public waterway. Padanaram North Harbor will be re-gridded with all mooring sites re-aligned on the basis of the size and characteristics of each registered vessel of record.  The need for the planned re-grid lies in the current irregular distribution of sites, inconsistent swing circles, draft constrictions and high public demand for moorings.     The re-grid project is designed to safely accommodate the greatest number of vessels within clearly-defined mooring circles, define safe thoroughfares or navigational passages through the mooring field and from the public launch area, and remove any improperly-marked obstructions found.   Due to circumstances beyond our control, the timing of this project has been delayed until October 2010.   At this time, all mooring locations north of the Padanaram Bridge will be adjusted.
The Waterways Commission is developing a precise and thorough plan for the details of this re-grid project.  Mooring Inspections that are due prior to this project must be completed to be eligible for a continued permit in the new grid.  All moorings will require proper markings, and all vessels must be removed from north side mooring sites prior to October 18, 2010.  Please continue watching the Waterways website (www.dartmouthharbormaster.com) for developing details on this immense undertaking.  Thank you for your cooperation, we will post updated information as it becomes available.

The Dartmouth Mooring Waitlist has been updated.

The Dartmouth D.P.W. will maintain the posted opening schedule for the Padanaram Bridge through 2100 hrs (9 p.m.) on October 31, 2009.   Mariners who cannot clear the span by lowering antenna or other readily lowered structures may request a bridge opening between 0500 (5a.m.) and 2100 (9p.m.) any day on the hour.  Between 0500 (5a.m.) and 0800 (8 a.m.), and at 2030 (8:30 p.m.) an opening may be requested on those half-hour marks only.  Hail the Padanaram Bridgetender on VHF radio Channel 13  prior to the requested opening time, prior to October 31st.

Bridge openings after October 31st must be made 24 hours in advance by telephone request to the DPW (during DPW business hours only) at 508-999-0740.  Please note that the Padanaram Swing Bridge is operated by the Dartmouth Department of Public Works, and not the Harbormaster Office.

Assistant Harbormaster Marty Casey of New Bedford was named Sportsman of the Year by the Bristol County League of Sportsmen's Clubs. Read the full article.

             At the January 2009 public meeting of the Dartmouth Waterways Management Commission, changes to Schedules A & B of the Dartmouth Mooring Regulations were unanimously and immediately enacted.   The heading to these mooring size regulation sections is now “Minimum Anchor and EXACT Ground Tackle Specifications.”                 The changes were enacted to address the widespread problem of many vessels sitting or riding on bottom chain heavier than could be moved by the attached vessel.  Heavy chain could be found laid out in any direction of the last strong gale, or sitting in a pile on the mooring anchor.  When all boats do not pull their full mooring scope according to the prevailing wind or wind/tide, the likelihood of boats bumping in our crowded harbor increases significantly.  In order to keep the same number and density of moorings accommodated, it was decided to require uniform mooring scope configurations based upon vessel size.               
           What impact does this have for each mooring permit holder?  Starting with every mooring which is due for inspection in 2009, the chain diameters for each mooring must change to match the required sizes for only the vessel of record approved by the Harbormaster for that mooring permit.  Inspections in each year hereafter will also require compliance at that inspection, as will any changes to your approved vessel of record.  If your bottom (or top) chain is oversized, it will need to be replaced with the appropriate diameter chain as specified in the Mooring Regulations.  Total mooring scope (length) remains unchanged and is based upon the mean high water site depth.  Mooring anchor weights described in the regulations remain minimum sizes and only this component of your mooring gear may be larger than recommended.         
          One additional change to mooring regulations affects only vessels less than 20’ in length moored north of the Bridge.  Moorings under “Schedule A” for approved vessels of record under 20’ in length should now have ½” diameter links for both top and bottom chains.               These changes are the result of deliberate public consideration by the Commission given to documented situations of property damage.  These mandatory changes are designed to promote public safety and the welfare of vessels moored in the tight boundaries of Padanaram Harbor.  Compliance is not optional and permits shall not be granted for non-conforming gear in Dartmouth waters.   These changes are not intended for mooring areas outside of Padanaram Harbor.  Mooring Service Providers are instructed to either bring indicated mooring gear into compliance with the new regulations, or to designate non-compliant gear as “failed” under Dartmouth Mooring Regulation 15(ii).