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DPW will be performing electrical upgrades to the Padanaram Bridge from April 13th - 17th , 2020. The work will require power to the bridge to be discontinued during this period. The bridge will be placed in the “open to mariners” position requiring the bridge and causeway to be closed to vehicle and pedestrian access. Road barriers and appurtenant signage will be installed on the east side of the bridge and at the intersection of the causeway and Smith Neck Road. Detour signs will be installed at 10 predetermined locations. The closure will take place at 7:00 am on April 13th. The closure date may be extended in the event unforeseen work is identified.
DPW will issue a formal notice on March 31st 2020.
FOR CLARIFICATION: THE BRIDGE WILL REMAIN "OPEN" TO BOAT TRAFFIC DURING THIS REPAIR. CARS, TRUCKS, TRAILERS AND PEDESTRIANS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CROSS THE SWINGING SPAN.

In response to Governor Charlie Baker's Declaration of Emergency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well as the President of the United States Declaration of Emergency, the Town of Dartmouth Selectboard declare that immediately and effective March 18, 2020, a State of Emergency is declared to exist in the Town of Dartmouth due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In accordance with that emergency declaration, the Dartmouth Harbormaster's physical Offices are CLOSED to the public until further notice. Please use our email contact for any routine business issues or questions. Emergencies on the waterways will be coordinated through VHF radio calls or 911 Police dispatch.
Additional information will be posted as information is received.
Stay safe.

Effective Monday March 9, 2020, the dock floats associated with the two launch ramps at the Arthur F. Dias Town Landing have been re-commissioned. The threat of thick ice formation, potentially destructive to the wooden floats, has passed. The facility is open for normal launching procedures. Please note that the State Public Access Board has authorized new launch/parking rates for the facility in order to maintain consistency with regional facilities. Effective March 1, 2020, the daily use fee is $7.00/calendar day, and the season pass for Dias Landing is now $60. Season passes for the 2020 calendar year are now available, with your vehicle and boat information, at the Town Collector's office at Dartmouth Town Hall.

The 2020 Waterways Invoices for renewal of Mooring Permits, Waterways Use Permits, Waiting list, and dinghy/kayak storage permits have all been mailed to the last known address on file for each customer.

The return of the permit renewal forms with appropriate fees must be received by the Town Collector by the close of business on Tuesday March 31, 2020.

Electronic copies of your invoice are available upon email request. The planned conversion to full electronic billing has been delayed by incompatibility with our invoices and the on-line Town payment system.

If you have any questions regarding your permit renewal, please contact the Harbormaster Office by email.

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There were 26 Marshall Catboats motoring through the 11am bridge opening on July 27, 2019. Click the link below to see the parade!

Marshall Catboat Rendezvous

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You can view our most current Mooring Waitlist which was updated on July 12, 2019 here

These identifying labels can help Coast Guard crew members, game wardens and marine patrol officers quickly determine whether a boat is merely adrift or if a paddler could be missing.

Coast Guard officials are asking canoe and kayak owners to clearly label their boats with contact information to help crews responding to reports of adrift boats.

As the summer season ramps up, so do the number of calls that the Coast Guard, Harbormasters, marine patrol officers and other law enforcement agencies receive about adrift or unattended canoes and kayaks. Petty Officer Matthew Strickland of Coast Guard Sector Northern New England said they had received several such reports before noon on the busy and sunny Independence Day holiday.

“It’s about two hours worth of work when we get a report of an adrift kayak,” Strickland said.

Strickland asked that kayak, canoe or other boat owners write their name, telephone number or other contact information on a card or other permanent label that is easily visible to individuals pulling up alongside in a boat. That can help the Coast Guard or other responders quickly determine whether the boat simply drifted away or if they should be on the look-out for a missing boater as well.

During the extended holiday weekend, the Coast Guard, Marine Patrols, and other agencies in the state are also participating in the national “Operation Dry Water” campaign focused on addressing impaired boating.

Officers will be conducting patrols all along the Massachusetts coast looking for boaters under the influence of drugs or alcohol and raising awareness about the dangers of impaired boating.