The Exeter Harbour Board met on Thursday 12 December 2024 at 5:30 pm. The meeting was scheduled to include a discussion of a range of topics relating to the Exeter Canal and the River Exe. The most significant of these were an update on the ongoing search for a new Designated Person to oversee safety in the harbour, a discussion of a fire that had taken place on a ferry on the River Exe, and the Harbour Master's report for the preceeding quarter.

Selection and Appointment of Exeter Harbour Designated Person

The board was scheduled to receive a report on the selection and appointment of a new Designated Person for Exeter Harbour. The Designated Person is a statutory role required by the Port Marine Safety Code that provides independent assurance to a Harbour Authority on the efficacy and operation of its marine safety system.

The report pack included a recommendation that James Hannon of ABPmer be appointed as the new Designated Person. ABPmer is a marine environmental consultancy. The report states that Hannon's application was one of two received, and that he was the strongest candidate due to his extensive and bespoke DP and Port Marine Safety experience. In particular the report notes that he is the current Designated Person for Dorset Council and Peel Ports Group. Peel Ports Group is the second largest port operator in the UK.

Incident Debrief: Ferry Fire River Exe

The board was scheduled to receive a report on a fire that took place on a ferry on the River Exe on 27 November 2024. The report describes how the Harbour Master was called to the scene of the fire at 12:55 pm, along with the Harbour team, the fire service, the Coastguard Agency and a commercial mooring organisation.

The report states that there were no passengers on board the ferry at the time of the fire, and that the only risk of injury was to the responders who attended the scene. The report goes on to describe how the Harbour Master took command of the incident and, after an assessment of the risks, instructed the fire service to extinguish the blaze in order to prevent the ferry sinking and causing a pollution incident.

The report concludes by listing the organisations that were informed of the incident, and by noting that the vessel's owner had been instructed to dispose of the wreck.

Harbour Master's Report December 2024

The board was scheduled to receive the Harbour Master's report for the preceeding quarter.

Maritime Activity

The report begins by describing a number of incidents that had taken place on the water since the last meeting. The report notes that there had been two gales, one in late September and another two weeks later. During the first gale, 18 boats broke free from their moorings, with damage estimated at over £300,000. The report also describes an incident in which a steel yacht broke away from its mooring and ended up against Starcross pier.

The report also notes that the Waterways team had begun the process of winterising the moorings, and were urging customers to take advantage of the service.

Finally, the report notes that a new Waterways Engineer had been appointed, and that the new engineer would be working three days per week primarily looking at maintenance projects on the canal gates, hardstands other infrastructure improvements that will require capital expenditure bids.

Canal Manager report

The report also includes a report from the Canal Manager, which provides an update on activity on the canal since the last meeting. The report states that a number of yachts that had been moored at Turf for a number of years had been asked to leave and get repairs done elsewhere. The report goes on to say that there were still a number of vessels moored on the canal that had not been lifted out of the water for hull maintenance in a number of years.

The report also notes that winter storage for boats at Turf and the Exeter Basin had been completed.

The report concludes by noting that the Canal team is currently short-staffed, and that this is a cause for concern.

Harbour Patrol Volunteers

The report provides an update on the Harbour Patrol Volunteers, noting that 10 volunteers had given up their time during the summer to provide patrols on the River Exe. The report states that the volunteers had run 39 patrols, accounting for 118 volunteer hours. The report goes on to say that without the volunteers, it would not have been possible to provide regular weekend patrols.

The report also notes that the volunteers had received training from the Royal Yachting Association, and that the Port Authority is an RYA Powerboat Training Centre.

The report concludes by stating that the Port Authority is hoping to deliver a number of evening patrols in good weather during 2025.

Aids to Navigation

The report notes that Exeter Port Authority is the Local Lighthouse Authority for the Exe Estuary, and that it is responsible for 51 aids to navigation. The report goes on to say that a number of the aids to navigation are coming to the end of their lives and are in the process of being replaced.

Licences for small passenger carrying vessels

The report notes that the Port Authority issues two types of licence for operators of small passenger carrying vessels: a licence for the boat, and a licence for the boatman.

The report states that vessels must have a seaworthiness certificate, an 'out of water' survey every five years, sufficient lifejackets and public liability insurance of at least £5 million.

The report also notes that boatmen must hold a valid First Aid certificate, a VHF radio licence and a recognised powerboat qualification.

End of season report from the Topsham Ferryman

The report includes an end of season report from the Topsham Ferryman. The report states that just under 7,500 customers, 2,400 bicycles and 280 dogs were carried across the river on the ferry during the season.

The report also notes that over 54% of the bicycles carried were electric, and that these had enabled a growing customer base of young and old people to use the ferry.

EV Dirac Project

The report provides an update on the EV Dirac Project, noting that the vessel had been delayed but was finally operational, albeit only on electric power at present. The report states that the hydrogen was being fitted, and that the vessel was due to return to Exeter in late Spring 2025.

Incident Statistics

The report provides details of the incidents recorded between September and December 2024. These included 2 sinkings, 1 grounding, 13 speeding vessels, 5 vessels adrift, 1 swimmer in the main channel, 2 navigation errors, 4 capsized vessels and 21 vessels parted from their moorings.

Marine Safety Plan - Management Objectives

The board was scheduled to receive a report on the Management Objectives for the Marine Safety Plan. The report states that the plan is owned by Exeter City Council on behalf of the Duty Holder, and that it aims to address high level targets which will benefit all port and harbour locations.

The report sets out a number of standing objectives, which are intended to be ongoing, and a number of period objectives, which are time limited.

Standing Objectives

The standing objectives include ensuring that the Duty Holders have received training on their role, that a Designated Person has been appointed, that all Marine Risk Assessments are up to date and that staff with marine safety responsibilities are trained to undertake their duties.

Period Objectives

The period objectives include introducing General Directions and repealing the current Bye-Laws, identifying marine facilities within the port area and seeking compliance with the PMSC, issuing a Training Matrix to ensure that all staff have the appropriate training, and carrying out a formal Risk Assessment of navigable waters.

Waterways - Financial Information

The board was scheduled to receive a report on the financial performance of Exeter's waterways. The report notes that the harbour authority is required to prepare an annual Statement of Account relating to harbour activities, in accordance with the 1964 Harbours Act.

The report includes a table showing the income and expenditure of the harbour authority for the financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23. The table shows that the harbour authority recorded a net cost of harbour activities of £270,000 in 2021-22 and £356,000 in 2022-23.