R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-9-4: Designation of time and place of quarantine.

The city or town council shall designate the particular place in the harbor, bay, or river adjacent to the city or town where all arriving ships or vessels subject to examination or quarantine shall come to anchor; and shall define the limits of the quarantine ground, and assign the time for which those ships or vessels shall be detained, and where and how unladen.