Yarmouth Harbour IOW

Many Solent yachtsmen are unaware of the proposed changes to Yarmouth Harbour. The proposals allow for only one navigational channel from the Harbour entrance to the bridge, which in some places is less than 15 metres wide to the MLW spring tide line. David Barwell, a member of the Royal Institute of Navigation, writes about the proposed changes.

I and many others believe this is not sufficient to cope with the traffic flow during periods of congestion, especially during periods of strong tidal flows coupled with strong winds.

It would certainly not be enough space for a vessel with high windage and/or poor manoeuvring characteristics to turn without risk of damage to itself or other vessels. Furthermore, the current layout allows for several different routes throughout the harbour and this is particularly important in relation to access to the swing bridge so that if the bridge opening is delayed vessels waiting to proceed up river have the opportunity to circle around the harbour giving them the ability to maintain way and steerage. The proposed layout will prohibit this, and many harbour users can foresee serious accidents occuring with visiting yachts and commercial craft exiting their berths on the west side of the Harbour, thereby crossing the single main thoroughfare to the bridge.

It appears that the Harbour Commissioners scheme is based upon tidal flow information produced for them by Hyder Consulting, which recorded a maximum tidal flow adjacent to the swing bridge of less than 1 knot. Many harbour users believe that the tide here flows in excess of 3 knots during a spring ebb.

The report is flawed with fundamental arithmetical errors and the misconception that the duration between mean HW spring and mean HW neap tides is only three days. As discussed I would be most grateful if you could make RIN members, particularly in the Small Craft Group, aware of the proposed changes to Yarmouth Harbour and if you feel it appropriate to contact the Marine Traffic and Navigation Group over the navigational issues that would be much appreciated.


With kind regards,
David Barwell M.R.I.N.

Read more about the Inner Harbour Reconfiguration proposals here

Users can use the feedback form on the Yarmouth Harbour website to comment, which can be downloaded as a PDF.