Regions for Port and Maritime Consultancy ~ South West

Review of Pilotage, Falmouth, UK

We were appointed by Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, a Trust Port, to undertake a review of the pilotage service, contracted by it from Falmouth Pilots Partnership to meet its obligations as a Competent Harbour Authority. This focused on reviewing current practice, identification of key issues in discussion with stakeholders, benchmarking current arrangements against the Port Marine Safety Code, and assessing options for future arrangements. (2007)

Tariff Study and Section 31 Review, Port of Truro

We were appointed by Carrick District Council to undertake a review of the appropriate level of dues for King Harry Ferry. We undertook a review of the costs of complying with the Port Marine Safety Code, and of carrying out the harbour authority's legal duty in managing, maintaining and improving the harbour, and assessed the contributions of all harbour users to fund this from dues under the Harbours Act 1964. Based on a review of the theoretical tariff options, and industry practice, we then made recommendations on levels of dues consistent with legal advice obtained by the Council. (2007)

Exe Estuary Nagivation Authority Advice, UK

Exeter City Council (ECC) is the municipal harbour authority for the Exe Estuary and the Exeter Ship Canal. In 1989 all shipping at Exmouth Docks ceased overnight and the Town Dues were lost.  The cost of managing navigation in the Estuary therefore fell on the Council Tax payers in Exeter, although 90% of the estuary is outside the city boundary.

ECC resolved to establish a new harbour authority (the Exe Estuary Navigation Authority (EENA)) as a Trust Port in line with the Government's Guide to Good Governance of 2000, and has submitted an HRO (a legal application to the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT)) to do this. ECC required specialist assistance to support its application, and therefore appointed Fisher Associates to review the proposed business plan for EENA, and to make recommendations on progressing the HRO following consultation with MCA and DfT. (2007)

Port Masterplan & Business Plan, Truro & Penryn, UK

Carrick District Council retained Fisher Associates to implement various recommendations for the Ports of Truro and Penryn, which are primarily marine leisure based. The tasks included:

• Updating the sustainable strategy, which sets the harbours raison d'être, and CDC’s policy towards them.
• Preparation of 10 and 20 year masterplans.
• Advising on preparation of a financial plan to investigate self sufficiency, including a five year annual plan, plus a 6 to 10 year “radar” to identify foreseeable major expenditure. (2007)

Port Governance Review, Carrick District Council

Fisher Associates was engaged by Carrick District Council to undertake a review of the Council’s harbours against best practice set out in the Municipal Ports Review (MPR) (2006), and by association the Trust Ports Review (1999). This covered three statutory ports: Truro, Penryn and Prince of Wales Pier in Falmouth. (2006)

Drawing on best practice we then prepared:

• An MOU to specify the relations between the Council and a new Harbour Board.
• Guidance for the Board and job descriptions for the Chairman and independent Board members.
• A skills audit against which we assisted with interviewing applicants for Board membership.
• A draft constitution for a new stakeholders forum. 

The benchmarking methodology was in three stages:

• Stage 1: Benchmarking the harbours against the MPR, and identification of issues to be considered by the Steering Group.
• Stage 2: Development of proposals or recommendations for review and adoption by the Steering Group.
• Stage 3: Consultation on the recommendations, incorporation of feedback, and adoption by the Council.

The approach used to benchmark the ports was:

• Mine the MPR for all the key questions and advice that it offers.
• Identify current practice within Carrick District Council in respect of the issue raised.
• Identify whether there is an issue that should be considered.

Following consultation with the Steering Group, recommendations were presented on behalf of the Steering Group for approval by the Harbours Forum, Cabinet, and full Council. These included:

• A summary of the key findings from the benchmarking exercise.
• Draft recommendations that set out the proposals in principle.

The key recommendations included:

• Setting up a bespoke fit for purpose Board to increase expertise and improve responsiveness in the decision making process.
• Separation of owning authority and managing body via use of a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
• Changing harbours from an executive to a non-executive function.
  Implementing Trust Port Guidelines regarding Board composition, appointments, performance and accountability.
• Improving stakeholder involvement.
• Reducing risks to the General Fund with preparation of a physical masterplan and long term financial plan for self-sufficiency.

All Projects In This Section