Anchoring charges and the law

Falmouth Harbour Commissioners has defended charging £15 a night to a boat owner who complained about "being made to pay to anchor", despite having no intention of using facilities ashore.

- Paul Benns

"We do not charge for anchoring. We do charge harbour dues -and this is raised to pay for conservancy costs," responds Miles Carden, CEO of Falmouth Harbour. "As a trust port, we are financially independent receiving no money from the government and are required to raise all our operating funds from harbour users," he said.

Liveaboard sailor Jimmy Lawrence said he is among many British sailors "outraged at the rate in which charging to anchor in wild, tidal rivers is becoming the norm".