Newport Harbor Statistics & Notices
Newport Harbor Light: 41º 29′ 36″N, 71º 19′ 38″W F. G. 33ft. 11M. White stone tower.
Newport Harbormaster: Monitors VHF 16 / Tel: 401-845-5815
U.S. Coast Guard: Station located at Castle Hill, VHF 16 & 22A. Tel. 401-846-3675
Customs Port of Entry: Customs office in Post Office building, at 320 Thames Street. Call on VHF Channel 16. 401-847-2744. See customs instructions.
Seamen’s Institute of Newport: 41º 29′ 12″N, 71º 18′ 02″W; Tel. 401-847-4260
The Harbor: Approaches are deep and safe in almost any weather. Reserve dockage early, moorings are available on first-come, first-served basis. The limited anchoring area can be jammed with too many boats on inadequate scope. Holding is suspect in much of the harbor.
Harbor Courtesies: Speed limit in the harbor is 5 mph, no wake. Quiet hour in the harbor is 2300 to 0700 (11pm to 7am).
Dockage & Public Dinghy Docks: Several marinas on the east side of the harbor and one on Goat Island. Free public dinghy docks available for boats less than 14 ft. at: Goat Island, Newport Shipyard, Perrotti Park; Ann Street Pier Maritime Center; Stone Pier (east of Ida Lewis Yacht Club); and Sail Newport at Fort Adams. Several more provided by businesses.
Moorings: Hundreds of moorings in the harbor, many for transients. Call Oldport Marine on VHF 68, Newport Mooring Service on VHF 09, or the Harbormaster on VHF 16 & 14.
Anchorage: The City’s anchorage is a small triangle at the southern end of the main harbor, north of Ida Lewis Yacht Club. You must contact the Harbormaster (VHF 16) for anchoring directions. Limited anchoring may also be found north of the Goat Island cause- way. All areas are crowded in summer season.
Transit Precautions: Newport Harbor is busy and filled with anchored and moored vessels. When transiting thoroughfare and channels, use caution. Be vigilant and take note of the following:
- Western Federal Channel along the east side of Goat Island: Obstructed by moorings and moored vessels when the wind is out of the East and Southeast. Restricted breadth of the channel should be noted. Proceed with caution.
- Goat Island Causeway: Proceed only through the center span to avoid possible entanglement in lines of people fishing off the bridge.
- Federal Channel North of Goat Island Causeway: Obstructed by moorings and moored vessels. Proceed with caution.
Fuel: Diesel and gasoline fueling facilities at Goat Island and the east side of the harbor. See directory for specific listings.
Pump-Out: Available at all marinas and yacht clubs and mobile pump-out boats, VHF 9.
Disposal: No discharge zone. The discharge of plastic, garbage, oil, sewage, etc., into any waters is prohibited. Violators are subject to civil penalty up to $25,000; a fine up to $50,000 and imprisonment for up to 5 years.
Repairs: See directory. The only large yacht haulout facility in the harbor is Newport Shipyard. (300-500 tons).
Supplies: Extensive, although groceries are a walk from the waterfront. Ashore is every conceivable variety of shop and restaurant. See directory.
Storm Preparation: During or in anticipation of heavy weather or hurricane, use a double mooring bridle, chafing gear on mooring line, and strip your vessel’s deck of excess gear and sails.
Commercial Maritime Security: Notices are announced on Channel 22A VHF. Traffic intentions are announced on channel 13 VHF Bridge to Bridge.
Harbor Jurisdiction: Newport Harbor is under the jurisdiction of the State of Rhode Island DEM and is considered a federal project area. U.S. Coast Guard also has jurisdiction.
Right of Way: In order of right…
- A vessel not under command, and a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.
- A vessel engaged in fishing, not including vessels fishing with trolling lines or other nonrestrictive apparatus, shall, so far as possible, keep out of the way of a vessel not under command, and a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.
- A sailing vessel shall keep out of the way of a vessel not under command, a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver, and a vessel engaged in fishing.
- A power-driven vessel, when underway, shall keep out of the way of a vessel not under command, a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver, a vessel engaged in fishing and a sailing vessel.
Navigation Rules U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 33 Inland Rules pertain to Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. A complete set of international and inland rules and regulations can be viewed and downloaded online at Homeland Security/USCG’s website: navcen.uscg.gov
Photo: Matthew Cohen Photography