Marina moorings and harbour dues

[Saguday]

We're lucky to sail in an area where anchoring is generally free but following a discussion over the weekend I'm curious to know what happens if you keep a boat annually in a large managed harbour (say for example on the south coast like Salcombe or Falmouth) where charges are made.

I understand that these days if you arrive as a visitor you are generally liable for harbour dues even if you anchor but what if you keep your boat on a mooring or marina berth there year round? If you leave your berth and pootle up river on the weekend and anchor does someone chase you up for £20 a night? Or are you deemed to be "resident" and perhaps pay annual harbour dues via your mooring or berth license?

Just curious...

 

[Angele]

... The latter.

My marina fees on the Hamble includes the harbour dues payable to the River Authority for the full 12 months.

 

[geoid96]

In Chichester, Harbour dues are not included in the annual marina fees and need to be paid separately.

 

[Saguday]

... The latter.

My marina fees on the Hamble includes the harbour dues payable to the River Authority for the full 12 months.

Cool

 

[Saguday]

In Chichester, Harbour dues are not included in the annual marina fees and need to be paid separately.

Gadzooks!

However, you can pay them annually and it's a modest amount (relatively speaking) so it's not like you get stiffed everytime you go off for a spontaneous sail.

Thanks!

 

[geoid96]

They need to be paid even if you never take the boat out of the marina.

 

[Saguday]

I took that as a given

 

[RestlessL]

In Chichester, Harbour dues are not included in the annual marina fees and need to be paid separately.

Not sure whether Marinas have to pay Chichester Conservancy a licence fee in respect of their pontoons. If they do, then this will form part of the annual marina fee.

In the case of swinging moorings in Chichester, the Conservancy do charge an annual licence fee for each mooring as part of the annual rental. This licence fee is payable even if you own the area where the mooring is placed.

This is additional to the harbour dues paid in respect of each vessel using the harbour.

John

 

[Boreades]

Coincidently, I had been wondering how much of Plymouth marina charges are harbour dues. I asked QHM Plymouth, they forwarded me to Cattewater Harbour Commissioners, who said that Plymouth Harbour dues are set at £45.50 +VAT

 

[Moonshining]

They need to be paid even if you never take the boat out of the marina.

They do - and they send folks to wander up and down the pontoons checking that the stickers are up to date. Last year, I got a letter saying that they knew I'd paid but, if I didn't put the sticker on the boat, they'd make some kind of penalty charge.