Harbor Patrol

Marine 1Monitoring VHF Ch. 16 and 06

The Harbor Patrol division is responsible for the overall public safety and management of Winthrop Harbor, Waterways, and facilities. Responsibilities of the division are, but are not limited to:

  • Management of Winthrop Harbor and Waterways
  • Management of town mooring areas
  • Management of the public landing complex (which includes a boat ramp, pier, parking lot, ferry terminal, and marina)
  • Public Safety and Security (Physical Patrols, Search and Rescue, Emergency Dewatering, Assisting Mariners in Distress)
  • Enforcement of state and town boating laws
  • Providing education to the public regarding boating safety and regulations
  • Enforcement of the Logan Airport Security Zone in Winthrop waters
  • Management of the Pump-out Program

Reporting to the Harbormaster, the division is supervised by the Assistant Harbormaster in Charge and operates from the ferry terminal building at the Public Landing. The division runs 2 patrol boats and a pump-out boat from the town pier. Members of the division are sworn as both deputy harbormasters and special police officers who are trained in accordance with the Massachusetts Harbormaster Training Council and Mass. Criminal Justice Training Council standards for harbormasters. Members of the department attend annual in-service training with the North Shore Harbormaster Association as well as C.H.A.M.P. (Commonwealth of Mass. Harbormasters and Maritime Professionals) group with various other local agencies. Members of the division are trained in emergency first aid and CPR, boating law enforcement, environmental issues, search and rescue, emergency dewatering, seamanship, and various other pertinent functions. Additionally, many members of the division are graduates of the Reserve/ Intermittent Police or Sheriff Academy and are certified in the enforcement and detection of B.U.I. (boating under the influence) by the Massachusetts Environmental Police.