New harbour patrol boat revealed

Published: 27 July 2020

There’s a new harbour patrol boat on the Exe Estuary to ensure users of the waterway – including wildlife - are kept safe.

The fast motor launch has been revealed by Exeter City Council’s Harbour Patrol Team and will be used to ensure other vessels keep to the speed limits of the Exe as well as other regulations.

The Team will also use it to ensure the wildlife refuges for wading birds and other wildlife are respected and depths of the estuary are monitored by sonar equipment, so that navigational buoys can be moved if necessary. To find out about more about the wildlife refuges visit the South East Devon Habitat Regulations Partnership website

The boat has been funded by Exeter City Council (£50,000), East Devon District Council (£15,000) and Exmouth Town Council (£10,000).

Harbour Master Grahame Forshaw said the boat would be crewed by two members of the Team throughout the week, including weekends, and would be used to support the community of the Exe where needed.

“It’s a great resource to have and will be used to pilot vessels into the Exe where they are unfamiliar with the channel as well as ensuring it remains a safe passage of water for all that use it.”