Port Procedures

Ship taking bunkers Navigational information for the Harbour Area can be found on British Admiralty Charts numbers 18, 32 and 154.

Latest navigation information relating to the Harbour can be found in Port Notices to Mariners.

Warnings about gales or other severe weather conditions will be broadcast by Falmouth Coastguard on VHF.

Vessels at anchor within the Harbour are required to keep a continuous listening watch on VHF Channel 16.

Vessels at anchor within the Harbour Area should have engines available at not more than 30 minutes notice. Placing engines on extended notice is not permitted without permission of the Harbour Master.

Vessels with an emergency including fire or a pollution incident whilst within the Harbour Area are required to immediately notify both the Coastguard and the Harbour Master in accordance with the Port Emergency Procedures.

Vessels arriving are required by UK regulations to report their details, ETAs and cargo information at least 24 hours prior to arrival. For full details of the reports required see Pilotage Information.

Vessels berthing in Falmouth Docks or mooring to the Cross Roads Buoy may be required to take tugs in accordance with the port’s Towage Guidelines.

Falmouth Harbour Commissioners are a statutory harbour authority and have a duty to regulate navigation within their Harbour. They also have a power to make bye-laws to provide an enforceable legal framework that can be used to assist in regulation.

The text of the Bye-laws can be downloaded from this site.

Bye-laws provide general rules for navigation and the conduct of a vessel within the jurisdiction of a harbour authority. In addition to these powers, a harbour master is able to give directions to vessels within his area of authority in respect of when and how they may enter the harbour.

The Bye-laws and certain other powers may be used to prosecute offences committed within the Harbour Area. When deciding whether or not to prosecute, the Harbour Commissioners will be guided by their enforcement policy.

Use of Falmouth Harbour Commissioners Commercial Moorings (PDF, 21.4kb)

Harbour Commissioners Enforcement Policy. (PDF, 11kb)