📜 1. Sec. 15-1. Harbor masters

• (a) The Governor shall appoint a harbor master, and may appoint a deputy harbor master, for each of the harbors of New Haven, Norwich, Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk, Stonington, New London and Branford. The Governor may appoint a suitable number of harbor masters and deputy harbor masters in any town in this state which has navigable waters within its limits, provided the appointment of a harbor master or deputy harbor master for the harbor of any municipality which has adopted a harbor management plan, pursuant to chapter 444a, shall be made by the Governor from a list of not less than three nominees submitted by the municipality's harbor management commission, except that if a harbor management commission does not submit at least three nominees, the Governor may appoint as harbor master or deputy harbor master any of the nominees submitted by the harbor management commission or any other person the Governor deems qualified. Appointments shall be for terms of three years from July first in the year of the appointment and until a successor is appointed and qualified, except the term of office of any person appointed before or after July first in any year to a newly created office of harbor master or deputy harbor master shall begin on the day of the appointment and expire on July first next succeeding the completion of the person's third full year in office. Any appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the remainder of the term of the original appointee and until a successor is appointed and qualified.

  (b) Harbor masters shall have the general care and supervision of the harbors and navigable waterways over which they have jurisdiction, subject to the direction and control of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, and shall be responsible to the commissioner for the safe and efficient operation of such harbors and navigable waterways in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The harbor masters or deputy harbor masters shall exercise their duties in a manner consistent with any harbor management plan adopted pursuant to section 22a-113m for a harbor over which they have jurisdiction. The commissioner may delegate any of his powers and duties under this chapter to such harbor masters or to any existing board of harbor commissioners, but shall at all times be vested with responsibility for the overall supervision of the harbors and navigable waterways of the state.

📜 2. Sec. 15-2. Compensation of harbor masters

• Harbor masters shall receive a salary to be determined by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, subject to the provisions of section 4-40 and shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

📜 3. Sec. 15-3. Powers of deputies

• Deputy harbor masters shall have all the powers and perform all the duties of harbor masters in the respective harbors for which they are appointed, subject to the control and direction of the harbor masters.

📜 4. Sec. 15-3a. “Derelict vessel”, “harbor”, “navigable waters”, “navigable waterways”, defined.

• Sec. 15-3a. “Derelict vessel”, “harbor”, “navigable waters”, “navigable waterways”, defined. For the purposes of this chapter:

  (1) “Derelict vessel” means any vessel, scow, lighter or similar floating structure or part thereof, whether or not moored, anchored or made fast to shore, that is broken or altered to such an extent that it will not keep afloat with ordinary care;

  (2) “Harbor” means a place on navigable waters, as defined by this section, where water-borne commercial or recreational traffic enters for the purpose of anchorage or docking or the unloading or receiving of cargo, supplies, equipment, fuel or passengers;

  (3) “Navigable waters” means waters which are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide shoreward to their mean high-water mark;

  (4) “Navigable waterways” means waters which are physically capable of supporting water-borne traffic, and subject to the ebb and flow of the tide.

📜 5. Sec. 15-4. Jurisdiction in Branford harbors.

• The jurisdiction of the harbor masters for the harbors of Branford shall include the harbor of Branford and Branford River as far up said river as Hobart's Bridge, so called, the harbor of Stony Creek and the waters between and adjoining the adjacent islands known as the Thimble Islands.

• Discharge of waste, oil, or hazardous materials is strictly prohibited.

• Harbor ordinances often require pump-out facilities and encourage clean boating practices in line with Connecticut’s Clean Marina Program.

📜 6. Sec. 15-7. Jurisdiction, powers and duties of Bridgeport harbor master. Approval of harbor works. Appeal. Penalty.

• (a) The harbor master shall have the general care and supervision of Bridgeport Harbor and its tidewaters and its rivers and of all the flats and lands flowed thereby, and all other tidewaters, flats and rivers which are within the city limits of said city but are not adjacent to said harbor in order to limit, prevent and abate sources of water pollution, to prevent or remove any unauthorized encroachment and other obstruction which is likely to interfere with the full navigation of said harbor, or in any way injure its channels or cause any reduction in its tidewaters, or prevent, abate or remove any unauthorized landfills upon or affecting the tidewaters located within the city limits of Bridgeport. The harbor master shall exercise his responsibility in a manner consistent with any harbor management plan for the Bridgeport Harbor adopted pursuant to section 22a-113m.

  (b) Each person who contemplates the building over said harbor and tidewaters of any bridge, wharf, pier dam or bulkheads, or the dredging or filling in of any flats or tidewaters, or the driving or placement of any piles, dolphins or bumpers below high-water mark shall, before beginning such work, give written notice upon forms provided by said master of his intention to do such work to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and to said harbor master and shall submit plans or drawings of any proposed wharf or any other structure, and of the flats to be dredged or filled, and of the mode in which the work is to be performed; and no such work shall be commenced until the plan or drawing and the mode of performing the same is approved in writing by the commissioner. The commissioner may reject or alter such plans at his discretion and prescribe the direction, limits and mode of building of the wharf and other structures, and all such works shall be executed under the supervision of the commissioner and the harbor master.

  (c) Any erection made or work done in any manner not sanctioned by said commissioner, when his direction is required as hereinbefore provided, shall be deemed a public nuisance. Said commissioner may order suits in the name of the city and prevent or stop or abate, by injunction or otherwise, any such erection or other nuisance and such suits shall be conducted by and at the expense of the city of Bridgeport.

  (d) Any person aggrieved by any action taken or order issued by said commissioner under authority of this section may within thirty days appeal to the superior court for the judicial district of Fairfield and said court shall take such action in the premises as equity may require.

  (e) Any person who violates or assists in violating any of the provisions of subsection (b) of this section or any direction or order of the commissioner made pursuant thereto shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor.

📜 7. Sec. 15-9. Vessels may be removed. Procedures. Notice. Regulations. Penalty.

• Sec. 15-9. Vessels may be removed. Procedures. Notice. Regulations. Penalty. (a) When the master or owner of any vessel lying within the navigable waters of this state, or the person having the same in charge, wilfully neglects or refuses to obey the order of any harbor master performing his duties under the provisions of this chapter, such harbor master may cause such vessel to be removed at the expense of the owner. Any such master, owner or person in violation of this section shall be deemed to have committed an infraction and shall be fined eighty-five dollars.

  (b) A harbor master may notify any officer attached to an organized police department or any state police officer that a master or owner of a vessel is in violation of the provisions of subsection (a) of this section. Any such officer may remove and take such vessel into custody and shall give written notice by certified mail to the owner or master of such vessel, if known, which notice shall state (1) that the vessel has been taken into custody and stored, (2) the location of storage of the vessel, (3) that such vessel may be sold after fifteen days if the market value of such vessel does not exceed five hundred dollars or after ninety days if the value of such vessel exceeds five hundred dollars, and (4) that the owner has a right to contest the validity of such taking by application, on a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, to the hearing officer named in such notice within ten days from the date of such notice. Such application forms shall be made readily available to the public at all offices of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and at all state and local police departments.

  (c) The chief executive officer of each town may appoint a suitable person, who shall not be a member of any state or local police department, to be a hearing officer to hear applications to determine whether or not the taking was authorized under the provisions of this section. Two or more towns may join in appointing such officer; provided any such hearing shall be held at a location which is as near to the town where such vessel was located as is reasonable and practicable. The commissioner shall establish by regulation the qualifications necessary for hearing officers and procedures for the holding of such hearings. If it is determined at such hearing that the owner or master was in violation of subsection (a) of this section, the owner or master of such vessel shall be liable for any expenses incurred as a result of such removal, or the costs and expenses incident to such removal, including legal expenses and court costs incurred in such recovery. If it is determined at such hearing that the owner or master was not in violation of subsection (a) of this section, the owner or master of such vessel shall not be liable for any expenses incurred as a result of such removal or for the costs and expenses incident to such removal, including legal expenses and court costs incurred in such recovery. Any person aggrieved by the decision of such hearing officer may, within fifteen days of the notice of such decision, appeal to the superior court for the judicial district wherein such hearing was held.

  (d) The state or local police department which has custody of the removed vessel shall have the power to sell such vessel at public auction in accordance with the provisions of this section. The state or local police department shall apply the avails of such sale toward the payment of its charges, any storage charges and the payment of any debt or obligation incurred by the officer who placed the same in storage. Such sale shall be advertised in a newspaper published or having a circulation in the town where such vessel is stored or other place is located three times, commencing at least five days before such sale; and, if the last place of abode of the owner of such vessel is known to or may be ascertained by the state or local police by the exercise of reasonable diligence, notice of the time and place of sale shall be given him by mailing such notice to him in a registered or certified letter, postage paid, at such last usual place of abode, at least five days before the time of sale. The state or local police department shall report the sales price, storing and towing charges, if any; buyer's name and address; identification of the vessel and such other information as may be required in regulations which shall be adopted by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to the commissioner within fifteen days after the sale of the vessel. The proceeds of such sale, after deducting the amount due for any storage and all expenses connected with such sale, including the expenses of the officer who placed such vessel in storage, shall be paid to the owner of such vessel or his legal representatives, if claimed by him or them at any time within one year from the date of such sale. If such balance is not claimed within said period, it shall escheat to the municipality from which the vessel was removed. If the expenses incurred by the municipality for such removal and towing and the sale of such vessel and any fines exceed the proceeds of such sale, the owner of the vessel shall be liable for such excess amount. A vessel may not be sold in accordance with the provisions of this section until: (1) The expiration of the time period under subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this section and (2) a final decision has been rendered in connection with an application filed pursuant to subdivision (4) of subdivision (b) of this section.

• (e) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of this section.

📜 8. Sec. 15-10. Penalty for neglect of duty

• Sec. 15-10. Penalty for neglect of duty. When any harbor master neglects, upon application of any person engaged in the navigation of the harbor under his charge, to remove or cause to be removed any vessel riding at anchor therein and obstructing its channel, he shall pay to such person twenty dollars, with costs, to be recovered in an action on his official bond or on this section.

📜 9. Sec. 15-11a. (Formerly Sec. 15-31). Removal and taking of derelict vessels.

• Sec. 15-11a. (Formerly Sec. 15-31). Removal and taking of derelict vessels. (a) A duly authorized harbor master shall determine whether a vessel is a derelict vessel. Upon such determination, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, such harbor master or a duly authorized representative of a municipality may cause such derelict vessel to be removed at the expense of any owner, agent or operator of such derelict vessel and may recover the expense of such removal, together with the costs and expenses incident to such removal, including legal expenses and court costs incurred in such recovery, from the owner, agent or operator of such vessel in an action founded upon this section. The last owner of record of such vessel shall be responsible for such vessel. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may consider any such vessel to be an encroachment subject to the provisions of sections 22a-359 to 22a-363f, inclusive.

  (b) Prior to removing and taking such derelict vessel into custody, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, a duly authorized harbor master or a duly authorized representative of a municipality shall make a reasonable attempt to notify the owner, agent or operator of the vessel and shall allow such owner, agent or operator to make arrangements for removal of the vessel. Such notification shall inform the owner, agent or operator that, pursuant to this section, if the vessel is not removed within twenty-four hours of notification, it shall be removed, taken into custody and stored at the owner's, agent's or operator's expense.

  (c) Prior to removing a derelict vessel, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, a duly authorized harbor master or a duly authorized representative of a municipality shall affix to such vessel a readily visible notification sticker. The notification sticker shall contain the following information: (1) The date and time the notification sticker was affixed to the vessel, (2) a statement that, pursuant to this section, if the vessel is not removed within twenty-four hours of the time the sticker was affixed, it shall be taken into custody and stored at the owner's expense, (3) the location and telephone number where additional information may be obtained, and (4) the identity of the person who affixed the sticker.

  (d) If the derelict vessel is not removed by the owner, agent or operator within the time period provided in subsection (c) of this section, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, a duly authorized harbor master or a duly authorized representative of a municipality may direct that such vessel be removed and taken into custody and may cause the same to be stored in a suitable place.

  (e) If a derelict vessel is removed and taken into custody pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, a duly authorized harbor master or a duly authorized representative of a municipality shall give written notice, by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner, agent or operator of such vessel, if known, which notice shall state: (1) The vessel has been removed, taken into custody and stored, (2) the location from which the vessel was removed, and (3) that the vessel may be disposed of after fifteen days if the market value of such vessel, as determined by a certified marine surveyor, does not exceed two thousand dollars or that the vessel may be sold after ninety days, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (f) of this section.

  (f) Ninety days or more after written notice has been given pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, a duly authorized harbor master or a duly authorized representative of a municipality may sell a derelict vessel at public auction in accordance with the provisions of this section. The commissioner, harbor master or authorized agent of a municipality shall apply the proceeds of such sale toward the payment of its charges, any storage charges and the payment of any debt or obligation incurred by the commissioner, harbor master or agent who placed the vessel in storage. Such sale shall be advertised twice in a newspaper published or having a circulation in the town where such vessel is stored or is located, commencing at least five days before such sale; and, if the last place of abode of the owner, agent or operator of such vessel is known to or ascertained by the commissioner, harbor master or agent by the exercise of reasonable diligence, notice of the time and place of sale shall be given to such owner, agent or operator by sending such notice to the owner, agent or operator, by certified mail, return receipt requested, at such last place of abode at least five days before the day of the sale. The proceeds of such sale, after deducting any amount due for removal and storage charges and all expenses connected with such sale, shall be paid to the owner, agent or operator of such vessel or the owner's, agent's or operator's legal representatives, if claimed by the owner, agent or operator or the owner's, agent's or operator's legal representative at any time within one year from the date of such sale. If such balance is not claimed within said period, it shall escheat to the municipality from which the vessel was removed. If the expenses incurred by the commissioner, harbor master or agent for such removal and storage and sale of such vessel and any fines exceed the proceeds of such sale, the owner, agent or operator of the vessel shall be liable for such excess expenses.

  (g) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may require the owner, agent or operator to furnish a performance bond in an amount sufficient to cover the estimated costs of removal as determined by the commissioner.

📜 10. Sec. 15-12. Obstructions upon lands bordering navigable waters

• Sec. 15-12. Obstructions upon lands bordering navigable waters. The selectmen of any town bordering upon navigable waters shall cause to be removed all obstructions and structures from the shores, beaches or other land in such town, adjacent to such waters, to which shores, beaches or other land the public has the right of access or which the public has been accustomed to use, occupy or enjoy, unless such obstruction or structure has been erected or maintained by, or by the express or implied permission of, the person having title to the land on which it has been so erected or maintained or having a legal right to erect and maintain it thereon; and such selectmen may, in the name of the town, have equitable relief by way of injunction against any person who, without legal right, interferes with the use and enjoyment of such shores, beaches and lands by the public or attempts to exercise any exclusive possession or use of any part thereof.