New England Maritime, Inc.

07/22/2026

We still have a few spaces in our boating safety and launch operator course this upcoming weekend (July 25-26). The course will be held at our classroom in South Dennis. A boating safety certification is currently required for anyone born after 1989 operating a motorboat in Massachusetts waters. As of 2028, it will be required for anyone, regardless of age. Given the time it is now taking for the Coast Guard to issue Merchant Mariners Credentials, this would also be an opportune time for anyone seeking their launch operator credential. With our course, you could get both. Sign up at https://www.nemaritime.com/registration/

07/02/2026

The isolated danger buoy that had marked the SS James Longstreet, aka the "target ship," in Cape Cod Bay has been way off station for months at this point. The ship, which was used as target practice by the Navy, can be a dangerous obstruction at low tides and caution should be used when navigating in the area. Unfortunately the U.S. Coast Guard local notice to mariners online application doesn't list a discrepancy, even though a buoy being off station clearly should be noted. Be careful out there. More info on why it has not been moved back in position in the Cape Cod Times: https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/local/2026/07/02/uscg-danger-buoy-freighter-cape-cod-bay-longstreet/90478199007/

05/11/2026

The Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance is holding a “Fishing 101” Gear and Safety training at the organization's Chatham office May 18-20 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (See link to registration form below.) There are 12 spots in the course, lunch is provided, and there will be a gear credit to Cape Fishermen’s Supply for attendees.

The 3-day course is free and participants who can't make all 3 days may be accommodated if it doesn't fill up.

Registration form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8AciquGTmMe4bqaXIzvNcdV7hVsPg3wFFIE69Ii_0tPkCUA/viewform

05/11/2026

Check out the latest on channels and shoaling in the Chatham area from Outermost Harbor Marine

Here’s our updated 2026 track map for this season. As always, these routes may shift as the sandbars move—we’ll continue to adjust and keep things updated, especially once the channels are fully marked.

If you’d like us to add these tracks directly onto your boat’s GPS, just let us know—we’re happy to help.

Stay safe out there and see you on the water.

04/23/2026

We still have one spot in this weekend's Zoom-based boating safety and launch operator course. Call for more information or sign up via the website.

New England Maritime offers offers USCG approved Captain's OUPV (Six Pack) license instruction, Charterboat Captain launch tender courses, Boating Safety classes, and STCW courses including Firefighting, First aid, CPR, Personal Survival and Personal safety,STCW Refresher,Basic Training Refresher,BT...

04/23/2026

A good reminder of the importance of emergency cutoff switches, which must be worn if they are installed on a vessel less than 26 feet in length when on plane or above displacement speed per a law that went into effect in 2021: https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/engine-cut-off-devices.php

04/23/2026

This year's Big Blue Conference is going green. Check out the list of speakers, including a presentation by Falmouth High School students, Randall Lyons of the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association discussing the "Impact of Recreational Boating" and John Pappalardo, CEO of Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance, as key note speaker on how the Blue Economy and Green Economy are connected through what he calls the “Aqua Economy." Register via the link below. Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation

Big Blue Conference is the Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation's annual industry conference curated to spark conversations and inspire actions relevant to…

04/21/2026

Here's the latest from the U.S. Coast Guard re: the effects of the government shutdown on National Maritime Center operations, including the processing of applications. Good news: it appears NMC staff are back to work and applications will be processed on a first-in basis. We had already been hearing some limited instances of movement on applications so this aligns with the likelihood that work is getting done. Our advice to students has been to submit applications as soon as possible regardless so they are earliest in the queue as possible. It would probably be worth checking on your application status at this point to make sure that's the case.

04/18/2026

A helpful new piece of hardware for mariners operating outside the Chatham South Cut will provide relatively up-to-date information on wave heights in the area.

Ever look out at the water and wonder just how big the waves really are?

Thanks to a collaborative effort between the Town of Chatham’s Department of Natural Resources Harbormaster Division, WHOI Sea Grant , and the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, now you can find out in real-time.

A new wave buoy, deployed just outside of Chatham’s South Inlet, is sending out wave measurements every 30 minutes. The information is publicly available to all commercial and recreational boaters through our partners at NERACOOS on their Mariners Dashboard. Whether you are planning a day on the water, tracking storm impacts, or just like nerding-out on scientific data, check out wave heights and more at: https://mariners.neracoos.org/platform/SPOT-32785C.

04/01/2026

It's April 1 but this is no joke. The state's new boating safety requirements kick in today for anyone born after 1989. The law means that if you want to operate a motorboat on Massachusetts waters you'll need a boating safety certification. (Everyone over the age of 12 will need the certification by 2028. Anyone under 12 is not allowed to operate a motorboat without a certified adult onboard.) We have a class coming up this month (April 25-26) that will satisfy the requirements. You can take it via Zoom and then come in to test with us at our location in South Dennis. Registration is on our website at nemaritime.com
https://www.wcvb.com/article/massachusetts-boating-safety-law/70859645

The new law requires boaters to pass a safety course before hitting the water