Harbor Patrol may lose city contract

The Newport Beach Harbor Patrol could lose its contract to manage the city’s boat moorings to a private firm to cut costs, Newport Beach Harbor Resources Manager Chris Miller said Tuesday.

This spring, city staff will recommend to the Newport Beach City Council that the private shipyard firm BellPort Group take over the city’s mooring management contract from the Harbor Patrol.

Newport Beach has about 1,200 moorings, about 800 offshore and 400 on shore.

The Harbor Patrol has managed the moorings for the city for the past 25 years.

Miller called the switch a “dollars and cents” issue on Tuesday.

“The Harbor Patrol provided an excellent service,” Miller said. “I was never dissatisfied with the level of service they provided.”

The Newport Beach City Council will probably discuss the switch in March or April, Miller said.

— Joseph Serna and Brianna Bailey