THE HARBOR COLUMN:

To raise harbor fees or not raise harbor fees? That is the question. Are Newport Harbor mooring permit holders getting a bargain or are the mooring fees out of balance?

Good question.

I think the answer lies somewhere in between. However, the Jan. 8 Daily Pilot article “Boaters want fees docked” outlined some of the fees the city is reviewing.

The city officials need to periodically evaluate the fees at least keeping the fees in pace with inflation.

However, boating and harbor activities are what define Newport and the lofty property values; property comparisons have shown that prices are typically higher for a home backing up to a waterway that is accessible for boating.

An active harbor generates property tax revenue for the city, and the boating industry and tourism generates multimillions into the economy and billions to the state.

The funds generated from the harbor should be put back into the harbor to increase services and infrastructure, especially since the bay is in dire need of dredging.

Dredging is vital to the use of the bay, which is directly related to the survival of the harbor, surrounding businesses and all the property values.

The federal government has cut funding for dredging shallow-draft harbors and the funds have been diverted to dredging shipping ports.

Dredging is a multifaceted, cost-sharing issue in Newport extending from the federal government maintaining the main channels to state, county and city officials maintaining certain channels to property owners maintaining their docks and bay beaches.

This week a question is “Why do some boats have a sticker that looks like license plate numbers on each side of the bow and other boats do not have any type of licensing showing on the boat?”

Almost all watercraft — whether a boat, vessel, ship, raft, dinghy, etc. — must be registered with the U.S. Coast Guard or the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

Vessels with the numbers displayed on the bow are typically boats less than 40 feet and are used solely for recreational cruising.

Larger boats, ships and all commercial vessels are documented with the Coast Guard and these boats have a documentation number affixed to their internal structure and use the vessel’s name and hailing port for identification.

Safe voyages.

MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating columnist. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to [email protected] or go to www.boathousetv.com.