Plymouth

1. Plymouth boarding, vessels over 150m Pilot boards50°18.5′N 004°10.5′W

Size limits

LOA 200.0m, draught 28.0m, beam 28.0m, 21,000DWT

Water density

1021.

Load line zone

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

Tides

Range 5.0m (springs), 2.2m (neaps).

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

Approach

Approach and entry: The port is approached from clear water and entered between Penlee Point (50°19'N 004°11'W) and Great Mew Stone, 3.25nm ESE, passing either side of Plymouth Breakwater (50°20'N 004°09'W). The recommended track passes W of the breakwater.

Approaches to Plymouth Sound:

From S: From a position about 4nm E of Eddystone Light (50°11'N 004°16'W) the line of bearing 000° of Plymouth Breakwater W Head Light (50°20'N 004°10'W) leads in the approach, passing E of Eddystone Rocks then W of West Rutts. The line of bearing 350° of Maker Light situated on Hooe Lake Point, or at night within its white sector (330°-004°), then leads towards the entrance to Western Channel passing W of OSR South Lightbuoy and OSR North Lightbuoy, then E of Draystone reef. Draystone Lightbuoy (port hand) is moored 0.15nm SSE of the reef closer to the recommended track, then W of Knap, a shoal marked on its SW side by Knap Lightbuoy (starboard hand), then to the pilot boarding place.

From W: From a position approx 1nm S of Rame Head (50°19'N 004°13'W) the line of bearing 080° of the summit of Great Mew Stone leads in the approach passing S of Penlee Point. On the line of bearing 020° of Plymouth Breakwater W Light the track then leads NNE then N to join the recommended track from S on the line of bearing 350° of Maker Light (1.5nm NNE).

From E: From a position about 1.25nm SSW of Great Mew Stone (50°18'N 004°06'W), the line of bearing 290° of the summit of Rame Head leads in the approach passing SSW of Mewstone Ledge, which extends 0.2nm SW from Great Mew Stone, to join the recommended track from S on the line of bearing 350° of Maker Light.

Clearing bearings: The sector limit (004°) of Maker Light, which changes from red to white, clears E of Draystone.

The sector light, which shows white between the bearings of 033°-037° and is shown from a window in the tower below the main light of Plymouth Breakwater W Light, covers the W part of Knap.

Port limits

The port limits are defined within the area bounded by a circle of radius 3.5nm drawn from Plymouth Breakwater Lighthouse. The outer limits of the port extend from Rame Head (50°19'N 004°13'W) to Shag Stone, nearly 4nm E.

Anchorages

There are three anchorage areas within the port limits, these vary depending on size of vessel, cargo and Naval movements. Anchor positions are allocated by Longroom Port Control and refer to numbered anchorages on chart BA1967 or BA 30.

Outer anchorages: S of Plymouth Breakwater (50°20'N 004°09'W) there are 3 numbered anchorage berths, 21, 22 and 23, as shown on the chart, situated 0.6nm and 0.9nm and 1.25nm SSW, respectively, from Plymouth Breakwater Fort. No 22 Anchorage is a licensed explosives anchorage.

Anchorage can be obtained in Cawsand Bay, sheltered from all except SE winds; vessels should anchor clear of the recommended track for deep draught ships and of the DG range.

Anchorages and mooring: Anchorages are situated as follows (with positions given from Plymouth Breakwater Fort (50°20.0'N 004°08.9'W)):

Anchorages for vessels over 7.5m draught are No 1 (0.11nm NNE), No 2 (0.9nm NNE), No 5 (0.7nm NNE) and No 7 (0.5nm N).

Anchorage areas for vessels of less than 7.5m draught are situated SE of The Bridge (50°21.0'N 004°09.6'W) and in Jennycliff Bay (0.8nm NNW and 1.25nm NE).

All anchorages except those in Jennycliff Bay are numbered.

Prohibited anchorages: Anchorage is prohibited in those areas shown on current Admiralty charts.

Plymouth Sound: Mooring buoys are situated in Plymouth Sound (with positions given from Plymouth Breakwater Fort):

C Mooring Buoy (0.2nm N): last reported dredged depth 12.0m.

D Mooring Buoy (3.5nm NE): last reported dredged depth 11.6m.

E Mooring Buoy (0.55nm NNE): last reported dredged depth 9.7m.

F Mooring Buoy (0.9nm NE): last reported dredged depth 8.6m.

Lights are exhibited from these buoys.

Anchorage beacons are situated on Ramscliff Point (50°20.6'N 004°07.7'W).

Quarantine anchorage: Is in the S part of Jennycliff Bay, entered between Ramscliff Point (50°20.6'N 004°07.7'W) and Dunstone Point, 0.7nm N, E of a line drawn 351° from Bovisand pier head.

Restrictions

Hazardous cargoes to be notified in advance and permission to be granted by Harbour Master before entering port.

Bridges: Minimum vertical clearances under Royal Albert Bridge and Tamar Bridge, at the N end of Hamoaze, at Saltash (50°24.5'N 004°12.5'W) are 30m and 35m, respectively.

Charts and publications

BA 30, 1613, 1901, 1902, 1967. Admiralty Pilot NP27, NP286(1).

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

Major repairs to vessels up to 12,000t can be carried out by Devonport Management Ltd who operates the repair facilities in the former Royal Dockyard.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available alongside or at anchor.

Bunkering: Bunkers are available by barge by prior arrangement through either ship's agent or bunker's. Bunkers available alongside or taken at anchor N of the breakwater.

Medical

Derriford Hospital, 10.9km.

Transport

Nearest airport: Exeter International Airport located at Exeter, 75.9km and Newquay Cornwall Airport located at St Mawgan, 80.6km.

Airport facilities: Daily flights to Paris, London (Gatwick), Ireland, Scotland, Bristol, Newcastle and the Channel Islands.

Working hours

Normally Harbour Office Mon-Fri 0800-1700hrs. Cargo worked throughout 24 hours if required.

Where it is

Plymouth is located on the S Devon coast.

The port

Plymouth is a Naval port subject to the jurisdiction of the Queen's Harbour Master (QHM) on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence. Access to the commercial parts of the port is via water controlled and regulated by QHM. All vessels are subject to the QHM's authority and must comply with his directions. Commercial vessels may be delayed to permit the safe passage of Naval vessels, particularly nuclear powered vessels.

The port also encompasses the commercial harbours of Millbay Docks, Cattewater and Sutton Harbour.

Millbay Docks, owned and operated by Associated British Ports (ABP), comprises a tidal basin specialising in Ro-Ro and cruise ship traffic. The port has one purpose built linkspan enabling loading and discharging of passenger and freight vehicles at any state of the tide. Millbay Docks also has a large modern passenger terminal, extensive vehicle marshalling areas, open storage and cargo sheds which speed up the turnaround of vessels and ease the flow of traffic.

Cattewater Harbour is a Trust Port. The privately owned Victoria Wharves, Cattedown Wharves and Phomplett Jetty lie within its boundaries.

Sutton Harbour, a non-tidal basin, provides 24 hour access through a lock at the harbour entrance.

Traffic

Approx 2,000,000t of cargo, 800 vessels and 450,000 passengers handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Plymouth?

The pilot boards at Plymouth boarding, vessels over 150m, 50°18.5′N 004°10.5′W.

What time zone is Plymouth in?

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

What is the maximum draft at Plymouth?

The deepest berth listed is at Cattedown Terminal: 8.40 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Plymouth?

1021.

Which load line zone is Plymouth 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 Plymouth?

Port State Control at Plymouth: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Plymouth?

The UN/LOCODE of Plymouth is GBPLY.

What crews who called at Plymouth 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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