[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 22; Ord. of 11-9-1994, § 9; Ord. of 6-7-2004; Ord. of 1-5-2009]
(a) 
No vessel will be allowed to anchor within the waters of Milford north of the harbor entrance jetties utilizing the vessel's own ground tackle except for those vessels engaged in the act of fishing.
(b) 
It shall be a violation of this section to anchor a vessel in the inner harbor. Vessels in distress are excepted from this prohibition but as soon as practicable, the person in charge of any such vessel shall remove said vessel from anchor in the inner harbor.
(c) 
The designated transient anchorage just north of Charles Island is not subject to the above restrictions.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 23; Ord. of 6-7-2004]
No person shall moor or anchor so as to interfere with the free and unobstructed use of the channels, fairways or berthing spaces within the areas as designated in Section 16.1-2 of this chapter. It shall be unlawful to voluntarily or carelessly sink or allow to be sunk any vessel in any channel, fairway, or berthing space; or to float loose timbers, debris, logs or piles in any channel, fairway or berthing space in such a manner as to impede navigation or cause damage. Any wrecked or sunken vessels within a harbor shall be subject to removal as set forth in Section 16.1-51, below.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 24; Ord. of 6-7-2004]
No person shall abandon, sink, or cause to be sunk, scuttle or burn any vessel, boat, craft or object in the areas described in Section 16.1-2 of this chapter, nor shall such person abandon, sink, scuttle or burn or otherwise place a vessel, craft or object in such area where it may be hazardous to navigation or to boats moored in such area. The Harbor Master of the City shall notify the owner of such abandoned vessel by certified mail to remove such abandoned vessel. If such owner is not known, the Harbor Master shall post a notice, if practical, on such abandoned boat or vessel requesting its immediate removal, and after a period of 24 hours following such notification or posting, the Harbor Master may cause it to be removed. See Sections 15-11a and 15-140c of the Connecticut General Statutes. Within the federal project, Title 33, Section 414, of the United States Code is adopted.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 25; Ord. of 6-7-2004]
No person shall make fast or secure a vessel to any mooring already occupied by another vessel, or to a vessel already moored, except that a rowboat, dinghy or yacht tender regularly used by a larger vessel for transportation of persons or property to or from shore may be secured to such larger vessel or to the mooring regularly used by such larger vessel. If tied within a slip, such rowboat, dinghy, or tender shall not extend into the fairway beyond the larger vessel if such vessel is also occupying the slip, or otherwise beyond the slip itself.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 26; Ord. of 6-7-2004]
If any vessel shall be found in the judgment of the Harbor Master to be anchored, berthed or moored within any harbor or maritime facility in an unsafe or dangerous manner, or in such a way as to create a hazard to other vessels or to persons or property, the Harbor Master shall order and direct necessary measures to eliminate such unsafe or dangerous condition. Primary responsibility for compliance with such orders and directions shall rest with the owner of the improperly anchored, berthed, or moored vessel or his authorized agent; in the absence of such owner or agent, said responsibility shall rest with the authorized operator of the vessel or the facility at which the vessel is anchored, berthed, or moored. In an emergency situation and in the absence of any such responsible person, the Harbor Master shall forthwith board such vessel and cause the improper situation to be corrected, and the owner of the vessel shall be liable for any costs incurred by the Harbor Master or his agents in effecting such correction.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 27; Ord. of 6-7-2004]
No person shall secure or permit to be anchored, berthed, or moored in a harbor, waterway, or maritime facility a vessel of any kind whatsoever which the Harbor Master considers unseaworthy or in a badly deteriorated condition, or which is likely to sink or to damage docks, wharves, floats, and/or other vessels, or cause water pollution, or which may become a menace to navigation. Such vessels shall be removed from the water and/or be otherwise disposed of as directed by the Harbor Master.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 28; Ord. of 11-9-1994, § 10; Ord. of 6-7-2004; Ord. of 1-5-2009]
Living aboard vessels in the harbor is prohibited. For the purpose of this section, the term "living aboard" means the continuous use of the vessel for a period in excess of 30 days, including use of the vessel for overnight lodging.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 29; Ord. of 6-7-2004]
It shall be a violation of this chapter to place any mooring in the waters of the City without a permit from the Harbor Master. No vessel so moored or anchored shall extend beyond the mooring area into any designated channels or fairway.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 30; Ord. of 11-9-1994, § 11; Ord. of 6-7-2004; Ord. of 1-5-2009]
(a) 
The Harbor Master shall keep a detailed record of all moorings and float spaces, their location, and the owner's name, home and business address, telephone number, date mooring or float space was set, and name, length, registration number, and type of boat to be attached thereto.
(b) 
The Harbor Master shall maintain at the City Clerk's office a waiting list for mooring apace and for float space, for assignment of mooring and float space, and an application procedure for use of the harbor and facilities.
(c) 
Applications for moorings and float spaces and a place on the mooring or float space waiting list shall be renewed annually.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 31; Ord. of 11-9-1994, § 12; Ord. of 6-7-2004; Ord. of 1-5-2009]
(a) 
The Harbor Commission shall establish and post in the Milford City Clerk's office an allocation procedure and priority list for seasonal moorings and float spaces.
(b) 
As provided in Section 16.1-57 above, available mooring or float space shall be offered to the senior applicant on either waiting list, subject to the constraints contained in these rules and regulations. Only one mooring or float space per individual or corporation except when a particular mooring space has been offered to everyone on either waiting list in the appropriate order and is not accepted by anyone on that list. If the available mooring or float space is not suitable to accommodate the senior applicant's vessel, it shall be offered to the next senior qualified applicant. In order to obtain the most effective utilization of existing mooring or float space facilities, lists of applicants will be maintained according to the size of these vessels. These lists will be available for public perusal during regular hours.
(c) 
Commercial fishing vessels may be assigned up to 10% of mooring spaces in the Housatonic River. Commercial use on permitted float space is not allowed.
(d) 
Consistent with the desire to minimize structural encroachments and other adverse impacts on coastal resources priority shall be given to riparian owners. Efforts shall be made to issue moorings or float spaces as close to the owners location as possible within the established mooring grid system.
(e) 
Special consideration will be given to the need for temporary mooring by other commercial vessels such as barges, pile drivers, towboats, etc., when they are performing authorized work in and around Milford Harbor.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 32; Ord. of 6-7-2004]
Any interested person or persons or corporation may apply for a mooring permit by completing, in full, the application provided for that purpose. In the case of a corporation, association, or other group however organized, disclosure of the principals of the corporation, and evidence of corporate organization, must be submitted by producing current articles of incorporation or similar instrument registered with, approved and issued by the State of Connecticut.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 34; Ord. of 10-2-1989; Ord. of 6-7-2004; Ord. of 1-5-2009]
All mooring or float space permits shall expire on October 31 and shall be renewed by October 31 of the present calendar year for the following season.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 35; Ord. of 5-18-1987; Ord. of 9-11-1989; Ord. of 9-9-1996; Ord. of 1-5-2009]
(a) 
All applications for mooring or float space permit shall be accompanied by a fee. All such fees shall be nonrefundable. In the case of applications for new mooring or float space, the fee shall not be due until such time as the Harbor Master shall assign such applicant a mooring or float space and the applicant shall accept same. All mooring or float space permits issued shall expire on the 31st day of October next following issuance. All fees established under this plan shall be reasonable and in line with the value of the service rendered.
(b) 
In accordance with Subsection (a) above, each applicant for a mooring permit for a recreational vessel to be located in the Housatonic River shall pay an annual fee of $125 plus applicable state tax per authorized space, and each applicant for a mooring permit for a commercial vessel shall pay an annual fee of $62.50 plus applicable state tax per authorized space.
(c) 
In accordance with Subsection (a) above, vessels utilizing the Harbor Commission owned mooring floats located in Milford Harbor shall pay $25 per linear foot, including all projections, plus applicable state tax per authorized space.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 36; Ord. of 11-9-1994, § 13; Ord. of 6-7-2004]
Whenever a permittee parts with possession of, or transfers the title or interest in, the small craft identified in the mooring permit to another person by any arrangement whatsoever, the mooring permit shall expire except as otherwise provided herein with respect to the original permittee. The new possessor, transferee or owner shall have no right to use the mooring space covered by the mooring permit. The original permittee may, upon written application to and approval by the Harbor Management Commission, retain the mooring space assigned under his or her mooring permit provided that another small craft owned by the permittee is moved into the mooring within 30 days (unless the period is extended by the Harbor Management Commission because of special circumstances involved) and the permittee continues to pay the appropriate fees.
As long as a corporation which possesses a valid mooring permit remains in being, the mooring permit remains valid, regardless of sale or transfer of stock. However, should the controlling interest in the corporation change through such a sale or transfer of stock, the permit shall expire.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 37; Ord. of 6-7-2004]
The Harbor Master shall attempt to accommodate a permittee's change in vessel size during the permit period, provided such a change doesn't reduce the number of moored vessels or compromise vessel safety.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 38; Ord. of 11-9-1994, § 14; Ord. of 1-5-2009]
(a) 
The minimum specifications for moorings in the City of Milford's mooring fields in the Housatonic River are as follows:
Boat Length
(feet)
Mushrooms Upriver/ Downriver
(pounds)
Chain Spreader
(inches)
Riser
(inches)
Shackles
(inches)
Line Riser
(inches)
Swivel
(inches)
Up to 23
200 – 150
1/2
1/2
1/2
1/2
1/2
23 to 28
250 – 200
1/2
1/2
1/2
5/8
5/8
29 to 35
300 – 250
1/2
1/2
5/8
5/8
5/8
36 to 41
350 – 300
5/8
1/2
5/8
3/4
3/4
Note: The above list is furnished as a guide only. Meeting these specifications does not guarantee a safe mooring in all conditions.
(b) 
Pick-up buoys shall be lettered with boat name.
(c) 
The maximum length of the pennant shall be two times the distance from the bow chock to the water plus the distance from the bow chock to the mooring cleat or post.
(d) 
All pennant lines running through a chock or any other object where chafing may occur shall have adequate chafe guards.
(e) 
The total length of the chain shall be 1.25 times the depth of the water at high tide.
(f) 
All shackles, swivels and other hardware used in the mooring hookup shall be proportionate in size to the chain used.
(g) 
All shackles shall be properly seized.
(h) 
It is recommended that the pennant be spliced or shackled into the bitter end of the chain so the strain is not carried by the buoy. The use of a second pennant in heavy weather is encouraged.
(i) 
At the discretion of the Harbor Master, screw type anchors may be substituted in both Milford Harbor and the Housatonic River. When screw type anchors are used, the proper size shall be determined by the Harbor Master. The Harbor Master may specify the use of mooring floats. When mooring floats are used, they must conform to the General Permit for Harbor Moorings issued pursuant to Section 22a-361d of the Connecticut General Statutes or a superseding permit issued by the State of Connecticut under the appropriate jurisdiction.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 39; Ord. of 6-7-2004]
Any registered owner who owns tackle and is abandoning his or her mooring space may offer to sell the tackle occupying such space to the next person assigned the same. Failure of the registered owner to remove such tackle shall constitute the abandonment thereof, and such tackle may be removed by the Harbor Master at the expense of such registered owner thereof.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 40; Ord. of 11-9-1994, § 15; Ord. of 6-7-2004; Ord. of 1-5-2009]
(a) 
No mooring shall be placed in the waters of the City as designated in Section 16.1-2 of this chapter without inspection and approval of the Harbor Master. The Harbor Master must direct the placement of all moorings.
(b) 
Each mooring shall be raised or removed for inspection at least once every three years in Milford Harbor and at least once every four years in the Housatonic River. The cost of inspection shall be set by the Harbor Management Commission based on competitive bidding by marine contractors qualified to do the removal, inspection, and resetting of moorings, and shall be at the sole expense of the owner. The Harbor Master will maintain a record of the inspection and his or her report for a period of four years. If, as the result of such inspection, it shall be determined that any chain, shackle, swivel or other piece of mooring tackle has become warped or worn by 1/3 of its normal diameter, all such chain, shackle, swivel or other piece of mooring tackle shall be replaced accordingly. Failure to make such replacement shall be grounds for revocation of the mooring permit by the Harbor Management Commission. A qualified driver approved by the Harbor Master shall inspect screw type anchors. Inspection interval for screw type anchors will be determined by the Harbor Master.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, § 41; Ord. of 6-7-2004; Ord. of 1-5-2009]
Mooring buoys are to be disconnected by November 1 and rebuoyed by May 1 on the alternate year that the ground tackle is not removed for inspection.
[Ord. of 11-25-1986, Art. V, § 43; Ord. of 6-7-2004]
The awarding of a mooring permit entitles the owner to the use of a specific mooring location identified by mooring number. The permittee may occupy the assigned mooring only with that small craft described in his or her application for mooring permit.
Any permittee who fails to remedy any breach of the duties, covenants or conditions of the agreement, or who fails to desist from violating these rules and regulations directed at him by the Harbor Management Commission or its agents for immediate corrective action and compliance, will suffer the automatic revocation of the mooring permit and any rights thereunder.
Reasons for termination or revocation of a mooring permit will be established by the Harbor Management Commission and posted in a location for public inspection.
[Ord. of 4-6-1992; Ord. of 6-7-2004]
No person shall use a guest mooring in Milford Harbor unless s/he pays a rental fee of $25 for a twenty-four-hour period to the Harbor Master or his designee. Monies so collected shall be deposited in the municipal harbor management fund.