NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND AND NARRAGANSETT BAY

Newport: boating safety

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Newport, at the mouth of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, is a major sailing and yachting centre with a busy harbour full of moorings, marinas and visiting yachts. It is a base for cruising Narragansett Bay, Block Island and the southern New England coast.

LIFE IN DANGER AT SEA
Call 911
Call Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England on 911. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF 16, or DSC on channel 70.

United States: all rescue numbers → On the rescue map → Print an emergency card →

Harbour and marinas

The Newport Harbormaster, based at Perrotti Park downtown, runs the city's moorings, transient docks and dinghy docks. Transient moorings are first come, first served; hail the Harbormaster on VHF channel 16 to ask about availability.

City of Newport · City of Newport · City of Newport ▾
cityofnewport.com (2026-10-14): “the Harbor Master operates and maintains cruise ship arrivals, public dinghy docks, transient docks, moorings, and Newport Maritime Center. Located in downtown Newport in Perrotti Park”
cityofnewport.com (2026-10-14): “Transient moorings in Newport Harbor are on a first come first serve basis.”
cityofnewport.com (2026-10-14): “The Newport Harbormaster on VHF. CH. 16”

City transient docks at Ann Street Pier and Perrotti Park are first come, first served, take boats up to 40 ft and are for short stays only: no overnight dockage.

City of Newport · City of Newport ▾
cityofnewport.com (2026-10-14): “Transient Dockage Rate = $.50/ft/hour. No Overnight Dockage available at these locations.”
cityofnewport.com (2026-10-14): “Both docks can accomodate vessels up to 40' LOA”

Weather

NOAA Weather Radio for Newport County comes from the Providence transmitter WXJ39 on 162.400 MHz, run by the National Weather Service in Boston/Norton.

National Weather Service Boston/Norton ▾
weather.gov (2026-10-14): “Newport 044005 Providence WXJ39 162.400 1”

Local rules

Visiting boats anchor in the Main Harbor transient anchorage: a roughly triangular area bounded by the cable line to the north, a line from Lime Rock to Fort Adams Light on the west, and Spindle Rock on the east.

City of Newport Harbor Management Plan (2024) ▾
cityofnewport.com (2026-10-14): “The transient anchorage area is roughly defined as a triangular area bounded by the cable line to the north and by lines drawn between the northern tip of Lime Rock and Fort Adams Light to the west and Spindle Rock to the east.”

No sewage, treated or untreated, may be discharged anywhere in Rhode Island waters, including all of Narragansett Bay and 3 miles off the coast. Toilet valves leading overboard must be locked shut. Newport's pump-out boat answers on VHF channel 9.

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (archived page) · Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (archived page) · City of Newport ▾
web.archive.org (2026-10-14): “Under state and federal law, it is illegal for boats to discharge any sewage – treated or untreated – into the waters of Rhode Island.”
web.archive.org (2026-10-14): “the valve directing the flow of waste must be pointed toward the holding tank and secured in place – by removing the handle, padlocking it, or affixing a non-releasable wire tie.”
cityofnewport.com (2026-10-14): “You can contact the Pump Out Boat at VHF Channel 09”

Hazards

Federal Anchorage D, west of Goat Island, is unprotected. In Anchorage E just south of the Newport Bridge, the strong south-westerly summer breeze can drive a dragging boat onto the bridge or ashore within moments.

City of Newport Harbor Management Plan (2024) · City of Newport Harbor Management Plan (2024) ▾
cityofnewport.com (2026-10-14): “It is unprotected and is used by cruise ships and other large vessels for short stays.”
cityofnewport.com (2026-10-14): “exposes vessels to the typically strong southwesterly breezes in the summer. If an anchor drags the vessel can quickly be against the bridge or aground on the shore.”

Hospital and medical

Newport Hospital, 20 Powel Avenue, has an emergency department open and staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Brown University Health ▾
brownhealth.org (2026-10-14): “Newport Hospital's emergency department (ED) is open and staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the year, so we're here whenever you need us.”

Frequently asked

Who do I call in an emergency at sea near Newport?

Call Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England on 911. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.

How do I contact the harbour in Newport?

The Newport Harbormaster, based at Perrotti Park downtown, runs the city's moorings, transient docks and dinghy docks. Transient moorings are first come, first served; hail the Harbormaster on VHF channel 16 to ask about availability.

Where do I get the marine forecast for Newport?

NOAA Weather Radio for Newport County comes from the Providence transmitter WXJ39 on 162.400 MHz, run by the National Weather Service in Boston/Norton.

Read before you sail

Ran aground? What to doCold water shock and hypothermia: what to doPerson overboard: what to doEngine failure: what to do when you lose power

Nearby destinations

Annapolis and Chesapeake Bay 279 nmHalifax 390 nmSt. George's, Bermuda 632 nmNassau & the Exumas BahamasMiami and Biscayne Bay United StatesFlorida Keys United StatesFajardo Tortola British Virgin Islands

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