The primary task of the Newburyport Harbormaster is the management and safety on the waterways of Newburyport. Some of the areas of the harbormaster's responsibility include:
• Patrolling the river and harbor and enforcing the State and local laws.
• Managing the boat launching facility at Cashman Park
• Managing the central waterfront docks
• Managing Plum Island parking lot
• Managing Lifeguards on public beaches
• Providing wastewater pump out vessel and shore facility at Cashman Park
Cashman Park Boat Launch Facility:
The Cashman Park boat ramp is a state of the art boat launching facility. It has 136 trailer parking spaces available and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is supervised from mid-May to mid-October with assistants to help with launching your vessels.
Fees: $5.00 per day for launch and parking
Seasonal Fee: $75.00 per year
A self-serve wastewater pump station for boats is also available during the boating season at no charge.
Docks and Mooring Accommodations:
Transient vessel tie-up at the city docks is available on a first-come, first-serve basis from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend. Fees are collected by a dockmaster on site. Fees range from $2 per hour to $6 per hour according to the size of your vessel. Water and electricity is available and and is included in the hourly fee. We also have four guest moorings available for $25 per night.
Vessels coming into Newburyport Harbor should contact the Newburyport dockmaster via Channel 12 for dockage availability or assistance.
Beaches and Rivers:
The Harbormaster manages and operates the public parking lot, comfort station, and lifeguard stations along the city's ocean and riverfront beaches on Plum Island. Two lifeguard stations are located on the ocean side and two are on the Merrimack River side to protect the numerous striped bass and blue fishermen and bathers in the Newburyport waters. Lifeguards are on duty from the beginning of Newburyport Public School summer vacation until Labor Day weekend, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily parking fees at the Plum Island parking lot are $8 per day weekdays and $10 on weekends. Senior citizens 65 and older park free.