Newport Beach cracks down on regulating moored boats

NEWPORT BEACH ― City staff is perusing the harbor in Newport Beach to ensure vessels are in compliance with Coast Guard regulations. Harbormaster Dennis Durgan and his team began identifying moored boats in poor condition and boats at risk of sinking. They recently had to pump out water from one boat in particular to keep it afloat. A sinking boat, according to officials, effectively functions as an environmental hazard, potentially polluting the harbor with marine debris and leaked oil. Durgan has taken preventive measures by meeting with the city’s code enforcement supervisor “twice a week, about 1.5 hours each, to identify, photograph and have his division send a notice of infraction per Title 17,” the Harbor Commission Ad Hoc Committee quarterly status report stated as of Oct. 11. The Newport Beach Harbor Commission Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Commissioners Scott Cunningham and John Drayton, support city staff in the effort to locate and remove derelict vessels. They recently joined Durgan aboard a vessel and navigated around the harbor, taking notice of boats in need of maintenance or removal. Notices are being sent out and boat owners have been responding by cleaning up their boats, according to Durgan. Durgan and his team do not have the authority at...