The New Hampshire Marine Patrol is a division of the
New Hampshire Department of Safety. NHMP has jurisdiction on any
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the nor ...
water body or more (over 1,300 in the state), of river, and approximately of coastline (North to South, not including interior harbors, bays, & rivers) of the
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
. NHMP headquarters is located in
Gilford, New Hampshire
Gilford is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,699 at the 2020 census, up from 7,126 at the 2010 census.United States Census BureauAmerican FactFinder 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011. Situat ...
in Glendale Bay on
Lake Winnipesaukee
Lake Winnipesaukee () is the largest lake in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, located in the Lakes Region at the foothills of the White Mountains. It is approximately long (northwest-southeast) and from wide (northeast-southwest), covering & ...
. HQ houses a number of part-time police officers, full-time police officers, communications personnel, and civilian employees. Marine Patrol operates year-round, with year-round patrols in the seacoast area and limited patrols on lakes during the "off season" (spring, fall, and winter) due to low boating activity and ice.
The NHMP Bureau is essentially split into three separate patrol divisions:
*Winnipesaukee Division
*Field Division
*Coastal Division
Duties of NHMP
*Patrol assigned areas using State patrol boats
*Respond to emergencies and other calls for assistance
*Enforce State boating and criminal laws
*Investigate boating accidents and drownings
*Provide seacoast security
*Conduct inspections of commercial boats and testing of commercial boat operators
*Conduct boating safety education classes
*Install, maintain, and remove State marine aids to navigation (over 5,000 in the state)
*Conduct criminal investigations and generate cases for prosecution
*Interact with other law enforcement and safety agencies
Vessels
NHMP uses a variety of different vessels for different tasks/patrol areas. The department's most recognizable/popular patrol boat is the Ambar 8 meter patrol boat, a aluminum RIB (Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat). These vessels are equipped with state-of-the-art GPS & radar, along with twin engines. Weighing in at roughly only , these patrol boats are capable of relatively quick maneuvers, and high speeds for a boat of its size.
Rank structure/Insignia
See also
*
List of law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire
External links
NH Department of Safety, Field Operations Bureau, Marine Patrol Unit
{{authority control
Marine Patrol
Maritime law enforcement agencies of the United States