Plymouth is one of the UK’s most historic ports with a rich maritime heritage spanning many centuries. Today, Plymouth is a bustling modern port, contributing over £95 million to the UK economy, handling around 80,000 tonnes of cargo each year and is home to Brittany Ferries’ services to France and Spain.

The Port of Teignmouth is a hidden gem on the South Devon coast, managed by Teignmouth Harbour Commissioners (THC) providing pilotage, towage and dredging, as well as offering our services to other Harbour Authorities and local maritime companies. THC manages and maintains over 150 moorings for vessels up to 14m LOA and another 600 other moorings, maintained by the mooring holder for vessels up to 6.71m LOA. THC has two 20m visitors’ pontoons which are standalone just off the back beach.

The estuary has 1 yacht club, 2 sailing clubs and is home to one of the fastest growing rowing clubs in the UK, alongside a large number of other marine activities. An historic fishing and commercial port, Teignmouth boasts a busy fish quay for the local fishing fleet and a small walk ashore public pontoon which is subject to a 15-minute limit alongside.

Associated British Ports (ABP) owns and manages the commercial Quays which have a total of 419m of Quay side and have handled vessels up to 124m LOA and a maximum draught of 6m. ABP has a total port acreage of 7.5 acres and is capable of handling all types of cargoes in and out up to in excess of 650,000 tonnes per annum.

Ship repair, Cargo handling and provision of a full range of port services.

Axmouth Harbour is leased from East Devon District Council (EDDC) by Axmouth Harbour Management Company Limited (AHMC). This is a non-profit organisation with representatives from the Axe Yacht Club and East Devon Fishermen’s Association (with independent Chair & Secretary).  AHMC sub-leases the western side (mooring basin) to AYC and the eastern side (fish quay), to EDFA. The daily operation of the harbour rests with the AYC & EDFA.

Axmouth is a small tidal harbour at the mouth of the river Axe. The tidal streams run strongly within the narrow entrance, especially during springs or when the river is in spate. There is a shifting shingle bar at the entrance, which under adverse conditions, makes the entrance impassable.

Activities include inshore fishery, with associated fish quay, boat building yard, marine services, diving and angling. There is a Yacht Club for recreational water-sports. It maintains a mooring basin with 102 pontoon berths, a slipway & layup facilities. Limited berths are available for visiting craft (max 9.5m LOA, 1.0m draught)

Bideford is a tidal port on the North Devon coast. The harbour manages 300m of quay frontage between the two Bideford bridges. Vessels over 50m must embark a pilot.

The quay can be accessed twice a day on the tide for vessels of around 2 metres draught, and on spring tides twice a day to vessels of up to 5 metres draught. The NAABSA berth is flat level and regularly maintained as such with our Fuchs crane.

Bideford regularly handles ships of 90+ metres with draughts of 4.5 metres or more that export clay from local quarries to Europe and especially southern Spain.

Bridgwater has been a statutory port since 1500 and a parliamentary Act of 1845 established its present boundaries and structure. It became a recognised pilotage authority when the 1987 Pilotage Act came into effect.
It has operated under the auspices of Sedgemoor DC since 1972.

The port covers twenty five square nautical miles of mainly inter-tidal sand and mud banks off the coast (Brean Down to Hinkley Point), and over fourteen nautical miles of tidal estuary and river (Parrett, Bruce and Axe), but with a comparatively low level of trade and low density leisure usage.

Although the council is responsible for conservancy of the harbour, all commercial wharves within the Port of Bridgwater are in private hands. Hanson Aggregates manages the aggregate import berth at Dunball Wharf. The other berths at Dunball and Bibby’s Wharf are currently not in use for Port operations, except for occasional use of Dunball by the passenger vessel Balmoral.

The Nuclear Electric roll-on roll-off berth at Combwich plays an important role in the transport of heavy loads for Hinkley Point Power Station. The port sees an Annual throughput of up to 80,000 tonnes of aggregates.

Bridport has a large number of leisure moorings (approx 130) and a small number of commercial moorings (approx 20).  Daily excursions operate from Bridport and there are many fishing vessels that work from the harbour on a daily basis. There are pontoons available for visiting craft and a large slipway which is functional at all times.

The Bristol Port Company was formed in 1991 when entrepreneurs Terence Mordaunt and David Ord purchased the port of Bristol from Bristol City Council.  Since privatisation the company has invested over £450 million to create a modern, thriving business offering the full range of shipping, distribution and logistics services. Bristol port can handle vessels up to 130,000 dwt.

• Bunkers, Dry Dock, railway, repair and maintenance, container, dry bulk, general cargo, petroleum, other liquid cargo, Ro Ro Towage

Both Royal Portbury and Avonmouth Docks are rail connected and have their own dedicated motorway junctions on the M5 – just seven miles from the M4 interchange and the second Severn crossing.

Bude Harbour consists of an inner section and seaward area protected by a breakwater. There are a number of moorings for Leisure and fishing vessels with the inner area utilised by hire craft and the occasional visiting craft. Access to the inner harbour is through a sea lock and upstream of the inner harbour is the Bude Canal.

Plymouth (Cattewater) is a conservancy which serves several privately owned terminals handling break bulk cargoes, timber, fish, agri-bulk (animal feed, fertiliser, grain etc.), and refined petroleum products. The conservancy is a Trust Port managed by the Cattewater Harbour Commissioners. There are approximately 150 swinging/trot moorings for local residents.  A limited number of visitor moorings is available. Cattewater Harbour Commissioners are the Competent Harbour Authority for all civilian pilotage service in the Port of Plymouth.

Dartmouth on the South Devon coast supports a large shell fish fishing industry,  a large number of leisure craft moorings (approximately 2700). Cruise liners and warships also visit the harbour. Dartmouth also has a licensed salmon and oyster fishery.

Harbour Authority for the tidal Exeter Ship Canal and navigation authority for tidal river Exe with activities consisting primarily of maintenance and operation of the Canal for commercial as well as recreational use for summer visitors and winter laying up of yachts; the tidal lock can take commercial shipping up to 37m.

The City of Exeter is the navigation authority for the Exe Estuary and is joint CHA for pilotage matters with Exmouth Marina and are the owners/operator of Topsham Public Quay for commercial and leisure use for winter lay ups and summer berths.

Falmouth is a busy port situated at the mouth of the Fal Estuary with a range of facilities catering for both commercial and leisure vessels.  Falmouth Harbour Commissioners manage an extensive area of bay and estuary with various anchorages and moorings suitable for all types of vessels.  Falmouth Haven operates the leisure side of the business which includes Falmouth Haven pontoons, a number of moorings including visitors’ moorings. 

Falmouth Pilot Services manage the pilotage for the area including Truro, Falmouth Docks, the Helford and quarries on the East side of the Lizard.  Keynvormorlift Ltd specialist Marine Contractors operate a facility at Boyers Cellars in the Penryn River.  There are a number of companies  located in the harbour servicing vessels in the harbour and further offshore.

The shipyard located within Falmouth Docks and Engineering Company, (a separate statutory harbour), operated by A & P Falmouth operates three dry-docks and has general cargo handling facilities. There are oil tanks and a terminal operated by World Fuel  Services Ltd. which store oil for offshore and inshore supply.  Pendennis Shipyard which has a worldwide reputation for building and refitting super yachts is also situated within the Docks.

The Port of Fowey, located in the south coast of Cornwall, is principally engaged in the export of china clay, although aggregate cargoes are increasing. Approximately 500,000 tonnes of cargo are handled annually.

Fowey Harbour Commissioners also operate tugs which provide out of port towage services in other ports, have a small dredger and have vessel repair facilities. There are a large number of leisure craft moorings (1,600) and facilities for visitors, (6,000 annual yacht visits) within the Harbour. They operate a boat park with dry storage for over 200 boats and a very popular engineering support business for leisure users.

Fowey is a popular cruise destination with an average of 8 – 10 visits per year. Fowey is the Competent Harbour Authority for pilotage matters for the Ports of Fowey, Par and Charlestown. Approximately thirty persons are employed in the port operation.

The Trustees are the Competent Harbour Authority and local lighthouse authority for the Gloucester Harbour. Main duties include the provision of a pilotage service, the siting, maintenance and improvement of aids to navigation and compliance with statutory environmental duties. Pilotage is compulsory for larger vessels. Traffic within the Gloucester Harbour includes commercial vessels arriving at and departing from Sharpness Dock and aggregate dredging operations. Cargoes include cement, grain, fertiliser, forest products, stone, coal and scrap metal.

The docks and drydock at Sharpness are operated by private sector companies, although responsibility for operation of the lock gates and maintenance of water levels rests with the Canal and River Trust. Leisure craft make up the remainder of the traffic, with considerable numbers of small craft gaining access to the inland waterway network via Sharpness Dock. The Severn Bore also attracts considerable numbers of surfers and kayakers to the harbour area.

Hayle Harbour is a historic port on the north coast of west Cornwall. A thriving and growing port with a small fishing fleet along with numerous leisure users and charter boats. Hayle Harbour also has various clubs which work within its limits and is very much a focal point of both the town and the community.

During the first two months of jetty operations c68k tonnes of material were delivered via the jetty. Ships are moored to the jetty using up to 8 mooring lines and are assisted by a tug with a bollard pull of 35 tonnes. Cargo is unloaded at up to 1000 tonnes per hour and takes cargo 3mins 47seconds to travel along the conveyor into the batching plant aggregate store.

Moving ahead, they look forward to delivering c2millon tonnes of aggregate and maximising the jetty for other HPC delivery opportunities. Four intake and two outfall heads will be installed into the Bristol Channel as part of the HPC cooling water infrastructure. In compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code, navigation & marine operational risk must be assessed and Reduced to As Low As Reasonably Practicable.

Home to the Ilfracombe yacht Club with over 100 moorings in the inner harbour. There are 12 visitor moorings in the inner harbour with additional visitor moorings in the outer harbour. We can accommodate a limited number of fin keel yachts along the two inner harbour walls. No moorings can be reserved.

Commercial operators run various day trips including to Lundy Island. There is a working quay for the local trawlers and potters that operate from here. During the Season the Oldenburg utilises the harbour and for a short season the Waverley calls in.

The Harbour itself is a must see for tourists with Verity being a main attraction. Annual events include the Gig Regatta, Lundy Yacht Race, Birdman, Sea Ilfracombe the  Maritime festival and the Pier Fair. Ilfracombe harbour is a drying harbour and as such dinghies are essential.           

Chandlers; Bunkering; Agency; Seamen’s Mission

Waste Disposal: Oil, noxious liquid, sewage, garbage, catering via agency/port operators.

Activities: Dry bulks; Break bulk

Looe is a conservancy which primarily serves the fishing industry and associated elements. The conservancy is a Trust Port managed by the Looe Harbour Commissioners. Looe Harbour Commissioners are the Competent Harbour Authority for the port and associated rivers feeding therein.

There are approximately 60 commercial berths, 34 quayside berths and 65 moorings in a mid-river grid formation for local residents. Quayside limited visitors’ berthing is also available in West Looe, provided that visiting craft are both capable and comfortable in taking ground on a dry berth. 

Lyme Regis is a drying harbour and has a large number of leisure moorings (approx 222) and a small number of commercial moorings (approx 34). Daily excursions operate from Lyme Regis and there are many fishing vessels that work from the harbour on a daily basis. There are pontoons available for visiting craft and a large slipway which is functional at all times. Many clubs operate from the harbour including Lyme Regis Gig Club, Lyme Regis Sailing Club and Lyme Regis Powerboat Club.

Fishing fleet, fish handling, pleasure/visitor moorings, tripping vessels, car parking, launch/retrieve slipway, aquarium.

Fishing harbour, although has in the past exported stone chippings. Newlyn is the second largest fishing port in the U.K. It is the premier Port for fish landings in England and Wales with fish to the value of £20 million landed.

Over 100 fishing vessels operate from the Port ranging from 19 ft to 120 ft in size. There are facilities for visiting yachts with approximately 800 vessels visiting Newlyn per year.

Newquay is a fishing and pleasure Harbour, operating seasonal activities and all year round fishing vessels. There is a small number of local moorings (63) and limited facilities for visiting yachts.

Competent Harbour Authority for the River Camel Estuarine Waters.  Padstow is a small commercial fishing/leisure port which handles occasional aggregate cargoes.

The Inner Harbour has a lock gate which operates two hours either side of every high water to allow traffic to come and go from the basin.  This provides afloat moorings (pontoon and wall) for vessels up to 3 metres in draft. There are approximately 200 swinging moorings in the estuary, visitor and residential, most of which dry out.

The harbour sells fuel, cylinder gas, lub oils, ice etc. and provides shower and laundry facilities for visiting yachts.  There is a pilotage service for vessels over 30 metres in length.  Padstow Harbour also run a 64 passenger ferry service between Padstow and Rock.

Penzance offers commercial ship repairs from Penzance Dry Dock Ltd who operate a dry dock, as well as marine engineers, Penwith Marine Services. There are also facilities for recreational residents’ craft consisting of 240 moorings and berths in the wet dock for up to 50 visiting yachts.

There are modest fish landings within the Port and the main cargo handled in the wet dock consists of supplies and freight to and from the Isles of Scilly. Other cargo recently handled includes stone for sea defence projects and heavy lifts for South Western Electricity.

Administration of 700 plus yacht and commercial moorings, piers, coves, wharves and harbours within the City of Plymouth ownership. Determination and licensing of deep angling and pleasure boat licences. Navigation Authority for City of Plymouth area.

Fishing and boat trips in summer.

Poole Harbour has commercial, fishing and recreational facilities. The Port of Poole handles. Ro-Ro freight and passenger ferries from France and Spain and a fast ferry service to France and the Channel Islands. Various bulk cargoes are handled including aggregates, grain, fertiliser and products for the construction industry.

The port handles Cruise turnarounds and visits currently accepting any vessel up to 210m LOA. The port has Temporary Storage Approval combined with GVMS for Ro-Ro freight pre-lodgement or accompanied and unaccompanied freight. A Border Control Post and Public Trade Office are operated within the port estate 24/7. Explosives can be handled in the Port with licence in place. VTS and Pilotage Service is operated 24/7. A harbour tug (18 tons bollard pull) is available (24hrs).

Bunkering is by road tanker, or bunker barge by arrangement. Small repairs and diving services are available locally. There are approximately 2,500 pontoon marina berths and 2,500 swinging moorings in the Harbour for recreational craft, club and commercial, as well as dedicated for visitors in the Poole Quay Boat Haven.

Commercial Vessels and Berths – Portland Port is a relatively busy commercial port and vessels visiting the port are varied.  Global Marine has its UK port operations at Portland and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are regular visitors.  Cruise ships for both embarkation and disembarkation and port visits are becoming much more frequent.  General cargoes, underwater surveys and long and short-term lay-ups cover the remainder.

For vessels using alongside berths the maximum dimensions are LOA of up to 300 metres with depths of 11.6m (CD).  For those requiring an inner harbour anchorage the constraints are depths 12.5m CD at ESC and weather conditions.  The Inner Breakwater berth (PBI) has depths of 14m (CD)> The port has an explosive licence and 4 designated hazardous cargo anchorages.

The Dockyard Port of Plymouth is under the statutory control of the Queen’s Harbour Master, Plymouth. The majority of the traffic in the port is either military or military support; the port serves the biggest naval base in western Europe, with base ported vessels including nuclear submarines and large warships, and a large number of visiting ships receiving Operational Sea Training. On the commercial side Brittany Ferries conduct 500 or so movements a year to and from ABP Millbay, while the commercial wharves in the Cattewater see Devon and Cornwall’s fuel, as well as many other cargoes, being moved.

There is a healthy commercial commuter and tour craft trade, while the recreational sector is lively, with 6 marinas, many water access points and clubs. Activity ranges from high profile and risk events such as offshore powerboat Grand Prix, through international sailing championships and local races to individual sailors, rowers, canoeists, divers, surfers and swimmers. The aim of QHM is to assist legitimate activity to the benefit of all, where possible.

St Ives is a drying, fishing and leisure harbour, operating seasonal activities and all year round fishing vessels. There are approximately 150 local moorings with 4 moorings for visiting yachts.

St. Mary’s Harbour is the principle port for the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago of several hundred islands situated 28 miles south west of Lands End, of which five are inhabited.

The Port is the centre for all commercial vessels operating from the mainland and off islands, including over 20 fishing boats.  St Mary’s Harbour is the Competent Harbour Authority for pilotage matters throughout the islands.  It is also the main base for the R.N.L.I. Severn Class Lifeboat.

There are 230 local moorings, 40 secure deep water moorings, 108 running lines, 33 beach moorings and 12 drying moorings for visiting yachts and ribs.  St Mary’s Harbour averages over 2,500 yacht visits a year, the majority from the EEC.  In 2017 there were  55 cruise ship visits.

Small south coast port busy with leisure activities in the summer. A ferry service operates to St Anthony head, a link within the coastal footpath. The harbour provides seasonal and visitor moorings. All year round services include a passenger ferry service to Falmouth and a small fishing fleet also operates from the harbour.

As one of Cornwall’s most beautiful and popular visitor attractions, St Michael’s Mount draws many thousands of people each year to see the historic castle and gardens as well as the picturesque village and harbour. It has been a longstanding priority that St Michael’s Mount is managed and maintained by both the National Trust and the St. Aubyn family, to ensure that its unique and unspoilt nature is preserved for all to enjoy.

Salcombe is an eco-port situated within an AONB, SSSI and is also a local nature reserve. Although it hosts a small but active shell fishing fleet it is predominantly a recreational and leisure harbour; there is little commercial traffic, although a number of small passenger ferries operate during the summer season within the harbour.  Most water-borne activities are catered for (yachting, sailing, canoeing and SUP) and the beaches within the estuary are also very popular with bathers.  Neither pilotage nor towage services are offered although small marine industry (boatyards, chandlery, fuel, water and electricity) can be obtained here.

Safely tucked behind a set of secure double lock gates at Sutton Harbour, Sutton Harbour Marina provides berthing for 420 vessels in the centre of the city, and an additional 151 spaces at the nearby King Point Marina. Also situated within Sutton Harbour is Plymouth Fisheries, a service provider to the fishing industry, sustaining 600 direct and indirect jobs through its wider supply chain and selling more than 6,000 tonnes of fish annually, making it one of the most important commercial fishing hubs in the UK.     

Fishing Port.  Pleasure – including a marina.  Maritime events.  Upwards of 500 moorings for fishing boats, leisure craft and visiting vessels.  Brixham Harbour is one of the largest fishing ports in England with over 150 local boats.  Brixham has deep water mooring facilities providing full coverage for fishing and leisure. Boat lifting and slipway launching.

Truro on the south coast of Cornwall has a number of leisure moorings (c1000) located round the upper half of the Fal Estuary.  Visitors’ pontoons are also available at Woodbury, Malpas, Ruan Creek and Turnaware Bar as well as berthing facilities alongside the quays in Truro. Commercial facilities include Lighterage Quay, Newham (1.5 km downstream of the city centre) which is 350m x 10m wide, this tidal berth offers a central inland location for Cornwall and the South West.  Facilities on the quay include a 50 tonne weighbridge and fresh water. The Port currently handles general bulk and bagged cargo, palletised goods and other ‘one-off’ cargoes i.e. boat hulls, steel coils etc. Stevedoring, ships agency, pilotage and cargo storage (both open and covered) are all available locally. There are a number of deep water lay up berths for large vessels situated in the King Harry Ferry. These moorings will accommodate vessels up to 190m Loa. The Port of Truro also has a native oyster fishery which is open from the 1 October to 31 March each year which only vessels fishing by traditional means may dredge.

Penryn Harbour is located to the west of the Fal Estuary from Coastlines Wharf to Islington Wharf and comprises approximately 100 acres. The Harbour has a working quay for fishing vessels, yacht marina, private moorings and a number of boat repair yards, boatyards and specialist marine services, including a small shipyard. There are approximately 350 moorings, with visitors being catered for at the nearby yacht marina.

Somerset West and Taunton is responsible for Minehead and Watchet Harbours. Both harbours are equipped for landing and mooring, with mooring berths and anchorages. The harbours are only suitable as ports of refuge for small craft. All ship movements are controlled by the Harbour Master. The marina built at Watchet Harbour is operated by Watchet Harbour Marina Ltd. Due to the shingle ridge at Minehead Harbour a Mariners Notice has been issued.

Fishing harbour, Large fishing and diving charter boat fleet. Leisure harbour with pontoon annual berths for leisure and commercial. Visitor’s berths for leisure and small commercial craft, RNLI all weather and inshore lifeboats – sailing and gig rowing clubs.

The speed limit in the harbour is 6 knots with a requirement for minimum wash as well. Most moorings in the river are private and licensed to resident individuals, however there is an understanding that if the public moorings are full, visiting yachtsmen may, at their own risk, use vacant private moorings. Staying overnight on a private mooring should nevertheless have the approval of the Harbour Master. Yachts should not be left unattended on private moorings without first contacting the Harbour Master. Visiting yachts may not berth alongside resident vessels without the agreement of the owner and the Harbour Master.

Cornwall Marine Network is a private not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee and owned by more than 300 local marine businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The CMN Team provide expert specialist support which helps member companies to grow, by improving marketing, skills, bringing innovation to market and improving productivity in the workplace.