Lady Harbourmaster

davidej said:
Can we hope Orford will get one of these instead of the current M-o-G.
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You know I have read the odd quote on here about the "Mr" Harbour master at Orford being a MOG and I visited last Summer ready to stand my ground. When it came to it I found him to be a smashing chap and his "Lady" Wife the same they could not do enough for us and so we stayed nearly a week. Witnessed him helping out some silly old fart on a knackered sailing boat near us who had a flat battery and could not start his engine. He jump started him from his launch. Still we are all different in this world I guess and we all have good and bad days. Now did I tell you about the MOG at ................ Ha ha

Happy Winter.
 
I find that my December copy of The Countryman magazine, just received, has a small item (on p59) which notes with approval that Torbay Civic Society erected last year a blue plaque commemorating Stella Gale, the UK's first woman Harbour Master at Paignton in 1929. There's a photo of it but no indication of the building to which it is attached.
 
Mariner69 said:
Precisely how much tax do you pay for the Harbour Master on the Crouch?
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Harbour dues ( which will include cost of staff) can be anything between £24-00 & £ 121-00 PA depending on how quick one pays & size of boat.
Not sure if the fee covers the full costs or if some is bourne by Maldon Council. If it is, then being a rate payer I probably would pay more.

Not sure about mooring fees on top of that or what the marinas have to contribute. If they do then that will be covered within berthing fees. I believe some twit proposed making the Blackwater come under the same scheme as the Crouch. Fortunately that does not seem to happen . But my rates have a percentage to cover the cost of the Blackwater harbour master along with Office based staff. Part of this is offset by mooring fees but probably not all. Do not have figures to hand

As for what use the harbour master is - I cannot comment . However, the Blackwater harbour master is about as much use as a chocolate teapot.
 
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Daydream believer said:
How about :--- " yet another superfluous tax on yachtsman's pockets" person
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I cannot speak with any erudition about the Blackwater, however, on the Crouch I find the sight of the Harbour Masters launch patrolling regularly most gratifying and that alone worth the dues.

When I was a young Copper in the late Sixties we used to patrol 'Beats' regularly. The big advantage of this much derided system was that we got to know every nuance of our patches, whose cars were parked where, whose lights were on at 3 in the morning, whose lights were on when usually off, who walked to work at 4 in the morning and much more......

Whether consciously or unconsciously, the Coxswain of Watchful must have built up a vast amount of Local Knowledge. Probably the most effective crime prevention measure on the River.

I have no hesitation in paying my 'Superfluous Tax'.
 
Daydream believer said:
I am not going to be drawn into the work of trained policemen for whom I have a degree of respect.
So try a different tack.
What use is the harbour master & the Crouch harbour authority?
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Don't worry about the Police thing, I only lasted 3 years as a Copper.... I quote from the website of the CHA.

Crouch Harbour Authority Matters
The CHA is responsible for:
Marine Incidents/Damage/Injuries (Non – Emergency)
NB. Marine related incidents involving damage to vessels or property or injury to persons must also be reported to Marine Accident Investigation Branch, Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Tel: 023 8023 2527
Navigation marking and signage
Hazards and obstructions to navigation
Oil Pollution (from ships/boats /marine sources)
Commercial Shipping/Pilotage
River works / Construction
Dredging
Speed Limits / River Behaviour

In General then 'Policing' the River, and as far as I can see via the Harbour Masters Office, they do quite a good Job.

I'm not sure to what extent the 'Local Authorities' support the CHA, but I live in Lincolnshire and therefore do not contribute by that means.

Out of Interest, is the Burnham Marine |Policing Unit still active as I don't recall having seen them on the water lately?
 
Boz said:
Crouch Harbour Authority Matters
The CHA is responsible for:
Marine Incidents/Damage/Injuries (Non – Emergency)
NB. Marine related incidents involving damage to vessels or property or injury to persons must also be reported to Marine Accident Investigation Branch, Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Tel: 023 8023 2527
Navigation marking and signage
Hazards and obstructions to navigation
Oil Pollution (from ships/boats /marine sources)
Commercial Shipping/Pilotage
River works / Construction
Dredging
Speed Limits / River Behaviour

In General then 'Policing' the River, and as far as I can see via the Harbour Masters Office, they do quite a good Job.
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As I see it most of that is "commercially" generated items . Apart from speeding ( fines - do they ever fine anyone?)& general behaviour ( for which the harbour master can do nothing only talk to the offender)
I accept that navigation would affect yachtsmen but before the river was used to such a high degree of commercial traffic little was done for the yachtsman re nav marks, so is this the thin end of the wedge where all yachtsmen have to contribute towards the cost of these things?-- Is this "Coming to an anchorage near you" soon???
Why should the harbour authority charge yachtsmen in the Crouch when all around the coast it is not charged (apart from the few harbour authorities). Will we start paying around the rest of the Thames estuary,

As for damage- lots of moored boats get damaged by fishing boats ( & others of course) in the Blackwater. The fishing boats also drag racing marks etc with total disregard ( we have seen this & in trying to stop it have suffered much abuse). Does the harbourmaster do anything ?? Put the answer on a postcard & send it to Maldon Council
I doubt that the Crouch is any different
 
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I doubt that the Crouch is any different
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As I said, I can't speak about the Blackwater, but my feeling is we pay for a service on the Crouch and as far as I can see, and it is a visible presence, they do a pretty good job.... Well I'm content anyway.

I am not aware of any incidents regarding damage caused by fishing vessels in the Crouch, perhaps others can enlighten me?
 
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