The Exeter Harbour Board met to hear updates from the Designated Person, the Harbour Master, and a professor from the University of Exeter. The board also received an update from Rex Frost, Chair of the Exeter Port User Group (EPUG), and discussed the upcoming consultation period for the Harbour Revision Order.

Port Marine Safety Code

James Hannon, the Designated Person (DP), gave a presentation on the updated Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code (PMSC) and 'A guide to good practice on port and marine facilities'. He explained that the code, owned by the Department for Transport (DfT), sets out a national standard, is not mandatory, and is primarily for the use of the Duty Holder¹. He noted that the guide was owned by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and that both were reviewed annually.

Mr Hannon noted that Exeter had a gap analysis in March 2024, but this was done using the previous version of the code. He expected the harbour authority to conform against the proportional requirements of the updated code. He also recommended hazard identification workshops for all port users and that the PMSC should be a standing item on the agenda moving forward.

He clarified that the Marine Safety Management System was not a document but everything that was carried out, such as conduct on the water and the conduct of staff .

Harbour Master's Report

The Harbour Master, Grahame Forshaw, updated the board on several key areas:

• Risk Assessments: He acknowledged that the current risk assessments were carried out using the council's own systems and were a bit clunky . He expressed his desire to assess on-the-water activities with the Port User Group.
• MARNIS Implementation: Mr Forshaw mentioned the ongoing implementation of MARNIS².
• HAZ ID Workshops: He reiterated the importance of holding HAZ ID³ workshops and involving harbour users in the process.
• Duty Holder Training: He stressed the importance of Duty Holders being aware of hazards and announced that training would be held for them.

In response to questions from board members, the Harbour Master addressed several concerns:

• Boat Owners: The waterways team had been working with boat owners, and timescales had been agreed for completing work.
• Live-aboards: It was council policy that live-aboards were not allowed due to insufficient facilities.
• Towpath: Inspection and risk assessments of the towpath were ongoing, but there were not enough staff to carry out remedial work at this time.
• Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB): The canal team were doing their best to handle ASB in the areas they were responsible for and were working closely with the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO).

'Should Rivers Have Rights?' Presentation

Dr Séverine Saintier, a professor from the University of Exeter, gave a presentation on the rights of rivers. She argued that the current regulatory framework was not sufficiently protective of rivers and suggested that a more eco-centric approach, such as the pacha mama philosophy⁴, could grant rivers legal rights.

Dr Saintier highlighted initiatives across the UK, including the Lewes Council's charter for the River Ouse, which gives the river a voice during decision-making. She suggested potential next steps for the River Exe, including working with stakeholders to develop a plan of action and potentially appointing a guardian for the river.

She also suggested that current legislation for the protection of salmon and migratory birds was not working because it was not enforced, and that the river should be considered in its own right.

Exeter Port User Group Update

Rex Frost, Chair of the Exeter Port Users Group (EPUG), provided an update, noting that:

• David Reed, the Exmouth and Exeter East MP, and his wife had visited and been taken out on the water.
• There had been discussions about the impact of Local Government Reorganisation on the Harbour Revision Order.
• There had been no new complications on the river.
• Harbour patrols were going well, and there had been a decrease in misconduct.

Harbour Revision Order

The Chair, Councillor Ruth Williams, Portfolio Holder for City Management, announced that the consultation period for the Harbour Revision Order was due to start on 13 October and would run for 42 days. The Harbour Master advised that this would be advertised in the Western Morning News for two weeks and on the council webpages.