The Dartmouth Harbormaster’s office oversees Padanaram Harbor in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, on Buzzards Bay, providing a wide range of services to boaters and the boating public. The office handles law enforcement and the enforcement of local, state, and federal boating regulations, along with search and rescue, towing and assistance for distressed mariners, emergency medical services, and fire protection in coordination with the Dartmouth Fire Department. It also provides free pump-out service—Buzzards Bay is a designated No Discharge Zone—and conducts surveillance and protection of vessels throughout the harbor. The office operates the Arthur F. Dias Town Landing and oversees the harbor’s Maritime Center and public tie-up floats. The entire harbor is a No Wake Zone with a 5 mph speed limit, and transient moorings are available south of the Padanaram Bridge through the New Bedford Yacht Club, Concordia, and Davis & Tripp. The Harbormaster’s office monitors VHF Channel 09, while Channel 16 is reserved for emergency hailing.
