 New Bedford / Fairhaven Harbor
 Getting
There
Boat Yards,
Marinas, Fuel
New Bedford
Yacht Club
A Little
History
New Bedford
Harbor Update
Where to Eat
Things to
See and Do
New Bedford Marine Rescue (TowBOAT/U.S.) -- Tow Service:
(508) 990-3997 (BOAT/US and NBOA Tower); Channel 16 (156.8MHz),
or 1-800-391-4869
Getting There
Chart 13232s - Also recommended are NOAA Charts 13229, 13230,
and 13218. Use the tide tables for Newport, RI. New Bedford
Harbor is seven minutes later than Newport for both high
and low tides.
41 deg 37 min 28 sec North, 070 deg 54 min 21 sec West.
The entrance to New Bedford Harbor (the city of New Bedford
is to the west; the town of Fairhaven to the east) at the
hurricane barrier is about 12.5 nautical miles southeast
of Mattapoisett, 4.8 nm northeast of Apponagansett Bay (outside
Padanaram Harbor at the breakwater) and about 12.7 nm north
of Cuttyhunk Harbor. The hurricane barrier was constructed
in 1966 following years of devastation by hurricanes in
the 1930s,40s, and 50s.
The main approach to New Bedford Harbor from Buzzards Bay
is well-marked. The 30-ft. deep channel begins at Brooklyn
Rock (green 6 sec quick-flashing bell) and Henrietta Rock
(red nun No. 6). Follow the well-marked channel into the
4600-ft. hurricane barrier (called “the dike” by the local
population), passing the Butler Flats lighthouse at the
green marker No. 4 (flashing 4 sec) and red nun NO. 2 (flashing
4 sec bell). Continue on through the channel, or, you can
sail or motor in to the area off Billy Woods Wharf to the
west in 15 to 18 ft of water till you are very close to
shore. There are some moorings in the area off Davy’s Locker,
or you can anchor there and go ashore.
To pass through the gates of the hurricane barrier (150
wide), be aware that the tidal flow in the dike opening
can reach more than 2 knots in either direction. Watch out
for fishing boat traffice at all times.
New Bedford/Fairhaven is an industrial harbor. During the
height of the whaling industry, New Bedford’s fleet was
the largest and most famous. And Fairhaven was the home
of whaling captains, chandlers, boat-builders and sailmakers.
Today, as you enter the inner harbor you'll see a large
fishing fleet, piers, processing plants, the State Pier,
the tall ship Ernestina and commercial wharves on your port
side.
On the starboard side is the Fairhaven waterfront, a mixture
of commercial, fishing, and recreational boat yards and
marinas. Fairhaven Shipyard and Kelly’s Marine can accommodate
yachts up to 135 ft. with a 16-ft. draft. Straight in front
of you is the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge and Crows Island.
Most of the marinas and dock space is found behind Crows
Island, although you can enter Captain Leroy’s (where you
may be able to find a slip or mooring) or the much larger
Pope’s Island Marina by continuing on in the harbor channel.
On the starboard side, Fairhaven, you'll find Fairhaven
Shipyard, Kelly's Marine, the (Fairhaven) Town Ramp, the
Acushnet River Safe Boating Club/USCG Aux. Marina (private),
a GAS DOCK, and the Seaport Marina.
If you can get through the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge
(currently opens at 15 minutes past and 15 minutes to the
hour, but check by hailing the bridge tender on Ch. 16),
you can find the Gear Locker, Bayliner Marina, Cozy Cove
Marina, Moby Dick Marina, and Niemec Marine, among others.
Boat Yards
Harbormaster - VHF Ch. 16 or (508) 996-2182 (New Bedford);
Gary Golas, (508) 979-4023 or (508) 999-4255 (Fairhaven)
Fairhaven Shipyard and Marina - (508) 996-8591, 50 Fort
St., Fairhaven, MA 02719. 20 to 25 transient slips, repairs,
fuel; first facility on starboard side after passing through
hurricane dike. Tie up at Texaco fuel dock, or hail them
on VHF Ch. 9 or 10. Shoreside services: water, ice, laundry,
showers, boat parts and supplies, Fed-X, copy, fax, limo,
car rentals, taxi. Marine services: mechanical, electrical,
engine, propeller, shafts, paint, sandblast, rigging, hauling
to 330 tons.
D. N. Kelly & Son, Inc. - (508) 999-6266, 32 Water St.,
Fairhaven, MA 02719. Transient slips, repairs, 160-ton Travelift,
two railways to 850 tons.
Harbor Front Marina (formerly Seaport Marina) - (508) 992-7985,
(508) 999-6700, 110 Middle St., Fairhaven, MA 02719. Transient
slips, ice, water, showers, pumpout, launch ramp, restaurant,
hotel and pool. Boat/U.S. members 25 percent discount.
Acushnet River Safe Boating Club, Inc. / USCG Auxiliary,
Flotilla 65 - (508) 991-2126, 80 Middle St., Fairhaven,
MA 02719. Fuel dock.
Pope's Island Marina - (508) 979-1456, 102 Pope’s Island,
New Bedford, MA 02740. 198-slip marina; laundry, pumpout
facilities, showers, and marina security 24 hours a day,
monitors VHF Ch. 74 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Capt. Leroy’s (Olde New Bedford Yacht Club) - (508) 992-8907,
Rte. 6, New Bedford MA 02740. Transient slips, moorings,
deep sea yacht charters, fishing.
Through the Fairhaven/New Bedford Bridge -
Cozy Cove Marina - (508) 997-2444, 2 Elm Ave., Fairhaven,
MA 02719
Moby Dick Marina - (508) 984-1133, 2 River Ave., Fairhaven,
MA 02719
Whaling City Marina - (508) 990-2065, 4 Pope’s Island, New
Bedford, MA 02740
The Gear Locker - (508) 994-3594, 255 Pope’s Island, New
Bedford, MA 02740. Transient slips, repairs, ship’s store,
rentals, charters (BOAT/US member discounts, 25 percent
transient slips, 10 percent ship’s store), provisioning.
Sailmaker nearby.
Niemiec Marine - (508) 997-7390, 173 Pope’s Island, New
Bedford, MA 02740. Full-service boatyard, major and minor
repairs, haul and launch service, storage.
The Gear Locker: (508) 996-8640
Services available: Transient slips, repairs, ship's store,
rentals, charters...
(BOAT/U.S. member discounts: 25% transient slips, 10% ship's
store)
Where to Eat
Morgan's Restaurant: Breakfast and Lunch menus
58 Washington Street , Fairhaven (508-997-4443)
What to do
A Walking Tour: This town is steeped with history. At the
turn of the century this seaside whaling town recieved a
number of distinctive architectural gifts from a native
town benefactor and Standard Oil tycoon: Henry Huttleston
Rogers. The Fairhaven High School, or the"Castle on the
Hill", the Town Hall (dedicated by Mark Twain), the Millicent
Library and the Unitarian Church are just a short walk from
all of the marinas.
Fort Phoenix, once stormed, burned and leveled by the British
during the revolutionary war, arose from the ashes the next
morning to prevent the British fleet from entering the New
Bedford Harbor is also a short walk away... Today it is
a State Beach
try Kayaking...
Buzzards Bay Kayak School , 508-996-8885, e-mail: matilto:asantos@tufts.edu
other Local Services...
Just a brisk stroll, or a short taxi ride, east of the harbor
along Rte #6 you'll find a few shopping plazas... they include
a Shaw's Grocery Store, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Benny's, etc...
Community Boating
http://www.communityboating.org/contact.htm
New Bedford Yacht Club
Incorporated in 1878, the first clubhouse for the New Bedford
Yacht Club was located on Fish Island in New Bedford Harbor.
In 1879, the club moved to larger quarters on Pope’s Island.
By the end of the 19th century, NBYC members were mooring
their boats in Padanaram Harbor in South Dartmouth - a non-industrial
harbor six miles southwest of New Bedford where the yacht
club constructed a second sub-station in 1901. Today, the
NBYC occupies substantially the same location on Elm Street
in South Dartmouth.
In alternating years, the NBYC shares responsibility for
hosting the Buzzards Bay Regatta with the Beverly Yacht
Club in Marion. For 2001, it is the NBYC’s turn to host
the BBR, one of the largest gatherings of racing yachts
on the East Coast. Dates are Aug. 3, 4, and 5.
For more information on the NBYC calendar, sailing classes,
moorings and other marina services, programs for junior
and regular members, cruises, membership, activities, and
other events, see the New Bedford Yacht Club.
A Little History
New Bedford has a history of seafaring traditions that continue
today with a busy active fishing fleet, and has an outstanding,
multi-ethnic work force.
New Bedford plays host to a wide assortment of traffic.
Most important is our fishing fleet with more than 200 vessels
operating out of the Harbor. These vessels consist mainly
of steel hull construction and are fishing for ground-fish
and scallops, supplying the nation with a fresh product,
second to none.
Various support industries include vessel maintenance and
repair, either done at dockside or at various repair facilities
along the waterfront. Equipment and provisions purchased,
relative to the catching of these products, such as food,
ice, fuel, oils, and many other products also having a great
impact on the economy of New Bedord.
In addition to our fishing fleet there are various cargo
vessels coming into port periodically, bringing and assortment
of cargos, mostly fruit, and frozen fish. These include
refrigerated ships averaging 400-500 feet in length, bringing
in 300-400 tons of cargo per trip. Typically, we will see
one or two of these ships per month staying in port for
about three days.
The Portuguese-American Export Line owns and operates the
vessel "Pauline Marie" bringing Portuguese specialties to
and from Portugal and the islands, on an average of 200
tons of cargo per trip, consisting mostly of personal affects,
occasionally there will be numerous automobiles shipped.
This vessels returns to New Bedford approximately every
six weeks.
The Cape Verdean Warehouse owns and operates the vessel
"Jenny" making approximately 10 trips to and from the Cape
Verde Islands per year, bringing various cargo and personal
affects.
The Alert (2), a 65 foot steel passenger and cargo vessel
operates out of Fisherman's Wharf making daily trips to
Cuttyhunk Island, some 16 miles south of the Port of New
Bedford.
The M / V Schamonchi docks just outside the Hurricane Barrier
making one to four trips daily to Martha's Vineyard, seasonally.
The vessel is capable of carrying 450 passengers.
New Bedford Harbor Update
Formally dedicated Friday, June 11, 1993 and fully commissioned
in the same month, the new Pope's Island Marina represents
the results of a community endeavor envisioned over 15 years
ago. Years of planning and nearly three million dollars
of financial assistance by the State of Massachusetts Department
of Environmental Management have produced one of the finest
public facilities on the east coast. Support services include:
* on-site laundry facilities * vessel holding tank * pump
out facilities *shower rooms * dockside water and * conference
room, * office space * electric facilities.
Daily monitoring of channel 74 from 7am to 7pm and marina
security 24 hours a day.
A Safe Place
Along with being an environmentally safe marina, Pope's
Island
Marina is located within the Hurricane Barrier in the upper
harbor
east of the New Bedford/Fairhaven Bridge. The Hurricane
Barrier
has made New Bedford a safe harbor of refuge for years.
The mile
long barrier encloses the harbor except for the 150 foot
passage. If
a major storm or strong high tides are forecast, gates will
close
across the opening at the discretion of the Army Corps of
Engineer Attendant.
Convenience and attractiveness make this 198 slip marina
a pleasure to the
marine community. Competitive slip pricing is available
on a daily or seasonal basis.
For slip pricing and seasonal rental information call the
Director of Harbor Development at:
(508) 961-3000
Things to See and Do
New Bedford, the former "Whaling Capital of the World",
has retained, preserved and restored much of it's whaling
heritage. Cobblestone streets, period lighting and carefully
preserved whaling mansions and sail-lofts can be seen and
visited in the HISTORIC DISTRICT and WATERFRONT areas...
Contact: Waterfront Visitor's Center and the New Bedford
Office of Tourism
@ (508) 979-1745 or 1-800-508-5353
The Waterfront area consists of the everyday hustle and
bustle of over 200 year-round working fishing boats, work
boats, and an occasional ocean-going freighter. It's a lively
and colorful, sights and sounds, adventure !
Contact: Historic District Visitor's Center @ (508) 991-6200
(walking tours are conducted during July and August)
The New Bedford Whaling Museum: (508) 997-0046
a "MUST SEE" @ 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford
What to do
A Walking Tour: This town is steeped with history. At the
turn of the century this seaside whaling town recieved a
number of distinctive architectural gifts from a native
town benefactor and Standard Oil tycoon: Henry Huttleston
Rogers. The Fairhaven High School, or the"Castle on the
Hill", the Town Hall (dedicated by Mark Twain), the Millicent
Library and the Unitarian Church are just a short walk from
all of the marinas.
Fort Phoenix, once stormed, burned and leveled by the British
during the revolutionary war, arose from the ashes the next
morning to prevent the British fleet from entering the New
Bedford Harbor is also a short walk away... Today it is
a State Beach
Seaman's Bethel: (508) 992-3295 (made famous in Herman Mellville's
"Moby Dick"
across the street from the Whaling Museum, on Johnny Cake
Hill
New Bedford's Free Public Library: (508) 991-6275
(established in 1852, the 2nd Free Public Library in the
nation and houses one of the largest collections of whaling
logbooks in the world)
and home of the famous "A Dead Whale or a Stove Boat" Whaleman's
Memorial Statue, who's incription reads:" In Honor of the
Whaleman, whose skill, hardihood and daring brought fame
and fortune to New Bedford and made it's name known in every
seaport of the globe".
The historic Schooner "Ernestina", a gift of the Cape Verde
Islands to the people of Massachusetts, a ship with a rich
history as a fishing vessel, Arctic explorer, and Cape Verdean
packet graces the waterfront: (508)992-4900
Butler Flats Lighthouse
New Bedford Outer Harbor
East Rodney French Blvd
New Bedford, MA 02744
Built in 1898, this lighthouse provided navigational guidance
for sailors returning from the sea to New Bedford harbor
for 80 years. The beacon could be seen for five miles or
more.
Decommissioned by the Coast Guard in 1978, the thirty-five
foot diameter structure was taken over by the city of New
Bedford and maintained through private support.
The lighthouse was refurbished and on May 30, 1998, the
100th anniversary, the beacon was re-lit.
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