Pumpouts End for 2025
With forecasted temperatures below freezing tonight, the pumpout boat and shoreside pumpout station have been winterized to prevent damage. Thank you for participating in keeping our harbor clean and we will see you in 2026!
Author: Deputy Harbormaster
Weekly Pumpout List to end 9/26/25
Dartmouth boaters who participated in the “automatic” weekly waste pump-out service must now call for individual servicing after Friday September 26, 2025. Pump-out service by request will continue on Tuesday and Friday mornings into October for as long as mother nature will allow. Forecasts for a hard frost will cause the termination of waste pump-out service in order to protect our above-deck systems from freezing damage.
A lack of consistent boat use in the fall season results in many wasted pump-out attempts by our crew. Individual pump-out service may be requested (please give at least one full day advance notice) by any of the following means:
- Telephone 774-473-8411 ( be sure to leave the vessel name, the mooring number or slip number, and the location of your waste deck fitting)
- Website: https://dartmouthharbormaster.com/pumpout-service/
- Through the townmoorings.com database website: https://dartmouth-ma.townmoorings.com/–
- By emailing the office directly at: harbormaster@dartmouthharbormaster.com
VHF radio requests hailing “Dartmouth Pump-out boat” between 0800 and 1100 on Mondays and Friday may be attempted. Please be patient as the crew may be pumping at the time of your call.
Our shore-side pump-out station located on the Maritime Center dock will also remain operable for boater self-service until the first hard frost is predicted.
**Update** Online Bill Pay
Update 3/31
Town Moorings has corrected most of the issues we originally encountered with the online invoices. The online “Pay Now” button is functioning properly and is suggested for easy payments. Thank you for your patience.
3/21/25 Town Moorings, our new database provider, is currently working on the system. We will place an update here when the system is ready for use. Thank you
NEW Due Date for 2025 Invoices
Dartmouth has contracted with townmoorings.com to institute a new database system for all waterways accounts. This implementation has caused a delay in the processing of ALL 2025 Waterways invoices. In light of this delay, new deadlines have been adopted for the 2025 season only. A new, simplified payment method has also been adopted for an optional convenient payment method.
- 2025 Invoices are scheduled to be sent out by 3/31/2025
- Regular yearly registration deadline will be 4/30/2025
- Late fee ($100 per mooring permit) is assessed on 5/1/2025
- Last day to renew a mooring permit is 6/2/2025
Thank you for your patience as we have this process streamlined to increase efficiency.
HM Office
2024 Waterways Decals
2024 Waterways decals were mailed out on May 15, 2024 to those who paid their Waterways Registration Fees.
Upper Apponagansett Bay Re-Opens for Shellfish Harvesting
In accordance with Chapter 130, Section 74A of the Massachusetts General Laws, the
Division of Marine Fisheries has re-examined the below defined “CONDITIONALLY
APPROVED” shellfish growing area in the Apponagansett Harbor (BB12.3), in the Town of
Dartmouth, and in the “Closed to Shellfishing” status based on seasonal water quality changes and
mooring area criteria. As a result of this examination, the Division has determined that the below
defined area now meets the established criteria for the harvest of shellfish and has changed the
status to “Open to Shellfishing” as of sunrise on November 1, 2023.
The below defined area may be opened to the harvest of shellfish for direct human
consumption subject to local rules and regulation under authority of Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 130, Section 52.
CLASSIFICATION: CONDITIONALLY APPROVED
SEASONAL STATUS CHANGE
Status: Open to Shellfishing
November 1-April 30
All Dates Inclusive
BB12.3
Apponagansett Bay
“The waters and flats and all tributaries of Apponagansett Bay, in the Town of Dartmouth,
east of a line drawn from the town pier to the “NO SHELLFISHING” on the bridge
causeway, south of a line drawn easterly from the easternmost point of land at Star of the
Sea Villa to Mullen’s Pier at the foot of Captain’s Lane, west of a line drawn from Mullen’s
Pier to the northern tip of Little Island thence from the southern tip of Little Island to the
westerly abutment of the Bridge Street Bridge, thence from the bridge southerly to the end
of Ross’ Pier, north of a line from Bush Point to the eastern end of Knowles Pier and then
easterly of a line drawn approximately 300’ from the western end of the Bridge Street
Bridge to the eastern end of Mullins Pier.”
The status of BB12.3 shall automatically revert to “Closed to Shellfishing” on May 1, 2024,
unless the Division changes the status prior to said date.
Pumpout Services End for Season
With the predicted freezing temperatures tonight, staff have winterized the pumpout equipment. Pumpouts will resume in the spring of 2024.
Thank you for using the pumpout service this year and helping keep our waterways clean!
HM Office
Shellfish Reopened
The Department of Marine Fisheries has changed the status of shellfishing effective 9/17:
STATUS: OPEN TO THE TAKING OF SHELLFISH
Subject to conditional area management plan criteria where applicable
Dartmouth Shellfish
Hurricane Lee
...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO OCCUR THIS EVENING IN SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND...
TROPICAL STORM WARNING ISSUED FOR CAPE COD, MARTHA’S VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET…DANGEROUS SURF AND RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS AFFECTING MUCH OF THE EAST COAST OF THE US
A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the coast of Massachusetts from Woods Hole to Hull, including Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A few points to assist with your decisions in the coming days:
- The Harbormaster Office has no additional information on the storm’s path. We rely on the National Hurricane Center as the best reliable source of possible paths and intensity predictions
- We do not have moorings, ‘Hurricane moorings’ or ‘storm moorings’ available on either side of the bridge.
- It is always the safest course of action to haul your boat well in advance of any predicted storm. It is unlikely to be safe or possible to haul if you wait until the last minute.
- Operation of the Padanaram Bridge is on the same schedule until 10/31 by the Department of Public Works.
- Please check mooring lines, add chafe protection near wear points, remove all sails, canvas and items stored on deck. Anything that cannot be easily removed, should be lashed down and secured.
- Your boat is likely made of plastic, metal and wood. It can be repaired or replaced more easily than your life or limbs. Please use extraordinary care and safety in preparing well in advance of the storm. We don’t need you to put your life, or ours, in jeopardy in the face of any weather. At some practical point, rescue equipment, vessels and personnel will be removed from the hazardous waterfront environment and will not be available to rescue you or your property during any storm.