Following the monthly Board Meeting of Newlyn Pier & Harbour Commissioners (NP&HC), here is an update on the latest developments at the Port.

NP&HC are pleased to announce that Jonathan Poynter has been appointed as Harbour Master & CEO Elect following a stringent recruitment process. He will take up his role in early July.

Jonathan is currently Operations Manager at Orcades Marine Management Consultants Ltd, a leading provider of marine project management and consultancy services to the offshore renewable energy sector, and the shipping and port industries, based in the Orkney Islands. He is also a Master Mariner.

Prior to this role, Jonathan was Deputy Marine Officer/Harbour Master of the Falkland Islands.

A new charging regime for Newlyn Harbour users came into effect on 1^st April 2022 and all the details can be found here

Following three years without change to support the fishing industry and local community during the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been necessary to increase the cost of harbour services in 2022 but charges have been set as keenly as possible to reflect the challenges faced by many as the cost of living continues to rise.

One of the main changes relates to car parking arrangements at the Port. NP&HC are no longer able to offer annual permits to holiday cottages and Air B&Bs for use in its car park at the centre of Newlyn as this will now be a dedicated resource for harbour users and regulated by an ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) camera. Visitors to Newlyn are asked to park at nearby Sandy Cove instead, where tickets can be purchased via the Zapp parking app.

The revenue generated by charges for harbour services is re-invested in the Port.

An example of this reinvestment is the recent installation of barriers at the head of the quay to enable vehicular traffic to be managed and to help increase safety. Those requiring access are asked to buzz the Harbour Office via the barrier keypad to gain entry and do not need to obtain a pass.

NP&HC have also approved a schedule of repairs and renewals, which will be ably overseen by the Port’s two Deputy Harbour Masters.

In terms of the future sustainability of the Port, NP&HC have submitted a business case to Cornwall Council relating to the establishment of a Newlyn Marine Skills & Resource Centre, which is broadly supported by the fishing industry and the local community. Penzance and Newlyn have been selected to bid for up to £25m through the UK Government’s Town Deals Fund, as part of its Levelling Up agenda, to support the regeneration of both towns, and this business case forms part of that strategy.

NP&HC are also at the very early stages of assessing how best to move forward with a feasibility study for the wider expansion of the Port, but matters are heading in the right direction and progress is being made.

“We look forward to welcoming Jonathan Poynter to the role of Harbour Master & CEO Elect in July and thank our Deputy Harbour Masters, Jedna Hall and Roger Nowell, for all their hard work in managing the Port so capably in the meantime,” comments Chairman of NP&HC, Rob Wing. “We are also pleased to welcome visiting Brixham beam trawlers to the Port, who are working off the North Coast of Cornwall and landing their quota of Dover Sole through Newlyn. The Fish Market is busy and full, and some of our larger local beam trawlers from the Stevenson’s and Ocean Fish fleets have recently broken the Port’s landing record on multiple occasions, grossing in excess of £100k from each fishing trip. Whilst increasing fuel prices are kicking the industry at the moment, the market is stable and firm. We expect this to continue as the weather eases and are now looking forward to the spring Crab run.”