The majority of Ports and Harbours in the UK are Trust Ports (Falmouth) or Municiple Ports (Truro). Saint Mawes Pier and Harbour Company is a Statutory Harbour with an Act of Parliament dated 1854. The Piers and Harbours order (Clacton-on-Sea and St Mawes) Confirmation Act of 1934 amongst other powers also allowed for the making of Harbour Byelaws.
We confirm annually that the harbour complies with the Department for Transports “Port Marine Safety Code” which sets out how Ports and Harbours should be operated and managed. As part of our responsibilities we operate a Marine Safety Management System which requires that all risks within our area of jurisdiction are identified and adequately controlled. We additionally have a duty of care to harbour users and have an obligation to facilitate its safe use.
In order to reduce the risk to swimmers from boats we have created a defined swimming zone along Summers Beach with a separate, marked boat lane. This is to provide access to the beach for small boats whilst maintaining a safe distance from swimmers. Within the swimming area off Summers Beach is a swimming platform which is provided for public use by the Pier and Harbour Company. A smaller swimming zone has also been created on Tavern beach with a swimming platform provided by the Hotel Tresanton. When swimming from the beaches in St Mawes please stay within the defined swimming zones.
The waters within all of our Cornish harbours are under increasing pressure from leisure users some of whom have little or no experience in the marine environment. To some boat owners the head of a swimmer can look very much like a mooring buoy, especially if the sea conditions are choppy or they are looking into the direction of the sun. Keep yourself safe and always swim within the swimming zones or close inshore not amongst the mooring buoys or ferry fairway.
Stay safe and enjoy the summer!
Chris Turner, St Mawes Harbour Master