A letter of appreciation from Newport Beach Harbormaster Paul Blank

The Newport Harbor Foundation recently awarded a grant to the Newport Beach Harbor Department and Habormaster Paul Blank.

Below is the letter of appreciation from Harbormaster Paul Blank. We proudly share this with our supporters and audience.



Refurbished and upgraded Patrol Vessel


“Since I assumed my role as Harbormaster, the City has taken decisive action to remove numerous abandoned or voluntarily surrendered vessels from Newport Harbor. These removals are vital for safety, navigation, and environmental protection. However, the process to secure legal authority for the removal and destruction of a privately owned vessel is necessarily lengthy and complex. To protect the City’s interests, we strictly adhere to all established legal procedures. In one recent example, the process required over two years, the formal arrest of a vessel, the engagement of outside maritime legal counsel, and two Federal Court actions.” – Harbormaster Paul Blank

A heartfelt letter of thanks from Harbormaster Paul Blank. We proudly share this with our supporters and audience.

Newport Beach International Boat Show is proud to announce that it has been named the #1 Boat Show in the United States by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2025. Full official announcement from USA Today 10 BEST was released on May 7th, 2025.