Largest Clean Marina in Rhode Island

New England Boatworks will be recognized as Rhode Island’s largest Clean Marina in a presentation at their Portsmouth facility on May 5. The Clean Marina Program is a voluntary initiative coordinated by the RI Coastal Resources Management Council that rewards marinas that go beyond regulatory requirements by applying innovative, pollution-prevention practices to their daily operations.

New England Boatworks’ achievement is considerable not only because it is the largest operation to gain the distinction to date, but also the most diverse of the state’s Clean Marinas.

New England Boatworks (NEB) is a complex operation that spans 28.75 acres of land and 8.5 acres of boat basin and includes a boat-building division that produces custom, state-of-the-art sail and power yachts; a full-service marina that offers long-term and transient berths for yachts along with complete refit and repair services; and a haul-out, storage, and service facility. NEB is also the first marina on Aquidneck Island to gain the Clean Marina distinction.

U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Volvo Ocean Race Skipper Charlie Enright, and Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit are among the speakers who will appear on May 5.

NEB has also taken the additional step of working with Clean Ocean Access to install a Trash Skimmer at its fuel dock. The Skimmer, made possible by funding from 11th Hour Racing, both reduces marine debris and generates awareness about the types of debris found in the water. Two identical Skimmers placed in Newport Harbor collected over 6,000 pounds of debris in only four months.

WHAT: New England Boatworks Earns Distinction as Rhode Island’s Largest Clean Marina
WHEN: Friday, May 5 / 10:00 am
WHERE: New England Boatworks (1 Lagoon Road / Building 11, Portsmouth, RI)
SPEAKING PROGRAM: The May 5 presentation will be emceed by Dennis Nixon of Rhode Island Sea Grant. Individuals participating in the presentation include:

• Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
• Tom Rich, New England Boatworks
• Janet Coit, RI Department of Environmental Management
• Grover Fugate, Coastal Resources Management Council
• Charlie Enright, Volvo Ocean Race Skipper / Vestas 11th Hour Racing
• Jeremy Pochman, 11th Hour Racing
• Dave McLaughlin, Clean Ocean Access

RI CLEAN MARINA PROGRAM: The Clean Marina Program was developed by the RI Coastal Resources Management Council, along with the RI Marine Trades Association, RI Department of Environmental Management and Save The Bay, to protect the state’s coastal waters and benefit the marina industry in Rhode Island. The program is a voluntary initiative designed to reward marinas that go beyond regulatory requirements by applying innovative, pollution-prevention, best management practices to their day-to-day operations. NEB will be the fifth operation to earn this distinction and the only one located on Aquidneck Island.