Fowey

Size limits

LOA 150m, beam 19.0m, 10,036DWT

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

Range 6.0m (spring), 2.2m (neap).

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

The port is approached from clear water S or E of Gribbin Head (50°20.0'N 004°40.0'W) and entered between St Catherines Point and Punch Cross Rocks.

The harbour has a length of approx 3.2km and a 0.4km width at the widest point; it has an entrance 213m wide with a main ship channel 91.4m wide and 6.4m deep at LW. Swinging area of 213m with 13.0m depth at HW, which leads into a lay-by area with buoyage accommodation for large vessels in 7.01m LWST.

Approaches: From SW: From a position S of Gribbin Head, by day the line of bearing 026° of St Fimbarrus Church (tower and flgstaff) (50°20.1'N 004°38.1'W) just open SE of Whitehouse Point Light, 0.2nm SSW, or by night, the line of bearing 025° of Whitehouse Point Light, which shows white between the bearings of 022°-032°, leads in the approach passing (with positions given from St Catherine's Point (50°19.7'N 004°38.6'W)):

ESE of Cannis Rock (1.2nm SW) the SE-most danger off Gribin Head. The rocks are marked on their S side by a lightbuoy (S cardinal).

Then ESE of a wreck with a depth 7.0m over it (0.8nm SSW). Then ESE of a 4.6m patch (0.4nm SSW) at the outer end of a spit extending E from the coast.

Then between St Catherine's Point and Punch Cross Rocks (0.17nm ESE), a beacon (white, cross topmark) marks the outer rock.

From E: By day, keep parallel with the coast and 1nm offshore until St Fimbarrus Church comes open of the E entrance point to the harbour. The track then leads N then NNE to join the approach from SW (as above) on the line of bearing 026° of St Fimbarrus Church.

By night, alter course N when in the green sector (017°-022°) of the Whitehouse Point Light to join the approach from SW on the line of bearing 025° of Whitehouse Point Light.

River: From a position in mid-channel between St Catherine's Point and Punch Cross Rocks the track continues NNE passing (with positions from St Catherine's Point):

Between Mundy Rocks (0.7nm N) and Lamp Rock (0.1nm E) marked by a beacon (starboard hand). Then WNW of Polruan Point (0.2nm ENE). The track then continues generally NE then N in mid-channel, to the berth or buoys.

Caution: Mariners are warned not to pass E of ships laid up on the E side of the fairway between Penleath Point (50°20.0'N 004°37.7'W) and Bodinnick, 0.3nm N, as they may be connected to the shore by breast lines.

Port limits

In harbour mouth between St Catherine's Point and Punch Cross Rocks.

Anchorages

Anchorage outside the harbour may be obtained approx 0.5nm S of Saint Catherine's Point in depths of 15.0m.

There is safe anchorage in Polruan Pool, just inside the entrance, for small craft.

There are 8 commercial mooring buoys for vessels awaiting berths.

Tugs

Available.

Mooring

Ships must use own mooring gear. Berth Nos 3 and 4 require long head/stern ropes to shore, often berthed starboard side to, own fenders. Ships lines required for towage.

Charts and publications

BA 31, 148, 1267. Admiralty Pilot NP27, NP286(1).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Notice of ETA should be sent 24 hours in advance to the agent or direct to the pilot. Any change should be notified not later than 6 hours before original ETA.

Communications

VHF: Fowey Harbour Radio, Ch 16, working Ch 12. Fowey Harbour Patrol, Ch 12.

Fowey Pilots, callsign "Fowey Pilots", Ch 16, working Ch 09.

Health

Renewal of Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Exemption Certificate possible.

Customs and immigration

Customs office in Fowey.

Port State Control here: Paris MOU.

Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Transport and Security Directorate (TRANSEC) of the Department for Transport.

Position: Head of Maritime Security Operations.

Address: TRANSEC Department for Transport, 5th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DT, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 207 944 2844 (24 hrs)

Fax: +44 207 944 2175

Email: [email protected]

Recognised Security Organisations:

RSO - ISSC Issue: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels

RSO - Security Consultant Services: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels.

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) is proposing, in line with EU regulations associated with the ISPS Code, to extend maritime security requirements to ships operating in domestic service and to port facilities serving them. The requirements would be based on those applicable to sea going vessels and generally would apply to domestic ships operating in 'sea areas', and which carry over 12 passengers or are over 500GT. Sea going ships which are certified to carry more than 250 passengers and tankers, especially those carrying oil and gas products, are considered as having the potential to be a target for attack.

For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org.

Repairs

Available. Repair yard and slipway available for handling vessels of up to LOA 45m, beam 9.2m, draught of 3.4m, 600DWT.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Via road tanker and by bunker barge available from Shell, Fal Oil Services and Conic. Permission to transfer bunkers should be obtained from the Harbour Master and if by road from Imery ports.

Medical

Fowey Hospital, 1.2km.

Crew change

Available, by arrangement with agents.

Transport

Nearest airport: Newquay Cornwall Airport, 34.4km.

Nearest railway: Par, 6.4km and St Austell, 13km.

Working hours

Normally Mon-Fri 0530-2300hrs, Sat 0530-1200hrs. Overtime available by arrangement.

Where it is

Fowey is situated at the mouth of the Fowey River on the S coast of England, approx 20nm W of Plymouth.

The port

Fowey is a natural deep water harbour, formed by a narrow steep sided river valley. There are five berths for dry/bulk cargo, owned by Imerys Minerals Ltd. Cargo handled such as dry bulk, bagged, kaolin, ball clay and calcium carbonate.

Traffic

Approx 200,000t of cargo and 200 vessels handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Fowey?

Available 24 hours. Compulsory, for all vessels over 37.5m in length except those exempt by law.

What time zone is Fowey in?

Local time at Fowey is UTC+0. Clocks go to UTC+1 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+0 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the water density at Fowey?

1025.

Which load line zone is Fowey in?

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at Fowey?

Port State Control at Fowey: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Fowey?

The UN/LOCODE of Fowey is GBFOY.

What crews who called at Fowey say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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