Notice to Mariners
Local Notices to Mariners for Exeter Port Authority
Removal of Exmouth Approaches Tidal Prediction Station (50°36’N, 003°23’W).
Number: 28/23. Date: 5 December 2023
After a recent re-assessment of Chart Datum levels between Exmouth Dock and Exmouth Approaches, the UK Hydrographic Office has concluded that the level of Chart Datum at Exmouth Dock (1.83m below Ordnance Datum Newlyn) is the more appropriate datum to be used in the approaches to the River Exe
than the Chart Datum at Exmouth Approaches (2.44m below Ordnance Datum Newlyn). This is because the former better reflects the influence that the River itself has on water levels between the harbour entrance and the Safe Water Buoy (50 ° 35.903’N, 003° 23.458’W).
As such, the Exmouth Approaches tidal prediction station is soon to be deleted and will not be replaced. Details of that station will be removed from Admiralty Tide Tables in the near future and from Admiralty Chart 2290 at its next new edition in 2024.
Mariners should therefore use the values and times of the Exmouth Dock tidal station from now on when making their approach into the port from the Safe Water Buoy.
Lateral Starboard Mark No. 1 is off station
Number: 27/23. Date: 2 December 2023
Notice is given that Lateral Starboard Mark No. 1 (Light sequence FL(2)G.5s) is off station. The buoy will be replaced as soon as possible.
Mariners are advised to navigate with caution in this area.
Lateral Port Mark No. 2 is reinstated
Number: 26/23. Date: 7 November 2023
Notice is hereby given that Lateral Port Mark No. 2 (Light sequence FL(2)R.5s) is reinstated.
Local Notice to Mariners: 24/23 (relating to the above) has now been cancelled.
Hazards on the River and Exe Estuary Approaches
Number: 25/23. Date: 2 November 2023
Notice is hereby given that there may be a number of hazards on the river and approaches over the next few days as a result of Storm Ciarán. This may include a pontoon that has been washed away from Topsham.
If you see the above pontoon or a potential hazard to navigation please stay clear and inform the Harbour Office on 01395 223 265 or email: epa@exeter.gov.uk
Mariners are advised to navigate with caution over the next few days and in the event of an emergency to contact the emergency services.
Lateral Port Mark No. 2 is off station
Number: 24/23. Date: 18 October 2023
Notice is given that Lateral Port Mark No. 2 (Light sequence FL(2)R.5s) is off station. The buoy will be replaced as soon as possible.
Mariners are advised to navigate with caution in this area.
Lateral Port Mark No. 12 (Q.R) has been reinstated
Number: 23/23. Date: 4 October 2023
Notice is given that Lateral Port Mark No. 12 (Q.R) is reinstated.
The position is as follows:
- 50°36.931'N
- 003°25.416'W
Lateral Port Mark No. 12 (Q.R) is off station
Number: 22/23. Date: 1 October 2023
Notice is given that Lateral Port Mark No. 12 (Q.R) is off station. The buoy will be replaced as soon as possible.
Mariners are advised to navigate with caution in this area.
Notification of emergency Works at Dawlish Warren
Number: 21/23. Date: 9 September 2023
Please see the note below from the Environment Agency:
Recent storms have seriously damaged the relic groynes 17 and 18. There is a serious public safety issue as well as navigational issue: if the groynes fail further and fails it could fall on the public and/or become a navigation issue if it floats into the Exe channel.
Groyne 18: Lower section 15 king piles from end to rotten whaler have failed and starting to rotate due to loss of toe embedment.
Wash out around pile basis is continued on tidal cycles approximately 0.5m has been lost recently. This has become increasing eroded in the last 6 months and the tail end is now becoming undermined, leading to the structure now rotating towards Exmouth.
Works will involve:
- Remove the last 15 king piles, associated whalers, fixings, and boards from Groyne 18
- All Horizontal planks to be removed on both G17 and the remainder of G18
Mariners are advised to navigate in this area with caution.
Exmouth Rowing Club Event - Orcombe Patrol 2023
Number: 20/23. Date: 31 August 2023
Notice is hereby given that the Exmouth Rowing Club will be holding a rowing event 'The Orcombe Patrol Regatta’ on Saturday 9 September 2023. The event will start at 09.30 and finish at 15.15 with vessels starting and finishing by No 10 buoy. Vessels hope to be clear from the water by approximately 16.30.
Race course:
- Start and finish between No 10 Buoy (50°36.747N 003°24.800W)
- Racing to the Safe Water Mark (50°35.904'N 003°23.441'W) and a buoy North East of the Safe Water Mark (50°35.957'N 003°22.671'W)
VHF Channel 72 will be used by the race organisers on the day.
For further information contact Les Carol Mob: 07941998820
Email: les.carol1971@btinternet.com
Masters of vessels are requested to keep clear of the racing in this area during the event.
Sunken vessel on mooring number PC 668 has been recovered
Number: 19/23. Date: 9 August 2023
Please note that the Notice to Mariners number 18/23 is cancelled. The vessel has been recovered and returned to its mooring.
Sunken vessel on mooring number PC 668
Number: 18/23. Date: 7 August 2023
Mariners are advised that there is a sunken vessel on mooring number PC 668 in position:
- N 50° 37.431’
- W 003° 26.457’
All water users are to keep well clear of this wreck.
The vessel will be removed as soon as possible.
British Offshore Rowing and Beach Sprint Championships, 28, 29 and 30 July
Number: 17/23. Date: 25 July 2023
Mariners are advised that on the 28, 29 and 30 July the British Offshore Rowing Championships
and Beach Sprint Championship will be held off Exmouth beach and approaches.
There will be a 4km and 6 km course – both of which will have a beach start unless the weather
preclude this, in which case they will start from the same place in which they finish.
Please refer to the course maps on the British Rowing website.
Approximate timings:
Friday 28 July
- 10:00 Captains briefing
- 11:00 racing begins
- 18:00 Course closes
Saturday 29th July
- 08:00 Captains briefing
- 09:00 racing begins
- 12:00 Final race
British Rowing Beach Sprint Championships, 29 and 30 July 2023
Competitors will race approximately 250 metres out from shore just west of the RNLI station.
Saturday 29 July
- 14:00 Captains briefing
- 15:00 Racing begins
- 17:30 End of racing
Sunday 30 July
- 08:30 Captains briefing
- 09:00 Racing begins
- 14:30 End of racing
Further contact on the day - VHF channel 8 for Exmouth Rowing Club.
Vessels are asked to keep clear of rowing boats racing within this area during these events.
Removal of Hazzard South East of Exe Safe Water Mark
Number: 16/23. Date: 4 July 2023
Mariners are advised that the hazard that was last recorded at the position below has now been removed.
- 50°35.817'N
- 003°23.256'W
Local Notice to Mariners: 15/23 (relating to the above) has now been cancelled
Hazzard South East of Exe Safe Water Mark
Number: 15/23. Date: 2 July 2023
Notice is hereby given that a yacht lost its mast overboard at 2pm today just south east of the Exe Safe Water mark.
The Skipper of the vessel cut the mast and rigging free of the vessel with and an orange buoy attached to the hazard.
The last recorded position of the hazard was:
- 50°35.817'N
- 003°23.256'W
Mariners are advised to navigate in this area with caution.
Exmouth Gig Club Regatta 25 June 2023
Number: 14/23. Date: 13 June 2023
Notice is hereby given that the Exmouth Gig Club Regatta will be held on the 25th June 2023.
Start time: 09.00. Finish time: 16.45.
The start line will be situated between the safe watermark and a start boat.
The finish line will be between the red port lateral buoy number 10 and the chequered flag outside NCI Exmouth. Approximately twelve boats will be attending.
Masters of vessels are requested to keep clear of the racing in this area during this event.
Lateral Starboard Mark No.19 has been repositioned
Number: 13/23. Date: 6 June 2023
Notice is hereby given that the Lateral Starboard Mark No.19 has been repositioned. The new position is as follows:
- 50°37.491'N
- 003°26.188'W
Exe Safe Water Mark
Number: 12/23. Date: 11 May 2023
Notice is hereby given that the light on Exe Safe Water Mark is reinstated.
Local Notice to Mariners: 11/23 has now been cancelled.
Lateral Port Mark No.2
Notice is hereby given that the light on Lateral Port Mark No. 2 is reinstated.
Local Notice to Mariners: 6/23 has now been cancelled.
Exe Safe Water Mark light is extinguished
Number: 11/23. Date: 6 May 2023
Notice is hereby given that the light on the Safe Water Mark has been reported as extinguished.
The light will be reinstated as soon as possible.
Mariners are advised to navigate on the approaches and through the channel with caution.
Exmouth Rowing Club Event - Saturday 15 April
Number: 10/23. Date: 6 April 2023
Exmouth Rowing Club will be running the Langstone Approach race on Saturday 15 April from Exmouth beach.
The event will include a 6K and 4K race track using the main navigation channel south of no10 buoy as far as the Safe Water buoy, thence turning to the southwest where two further temporary turning marks will be laid.
The event will start at 10.00 hrs, and will finish the same afternoon.
Mariners are advised to keep well clear of all competing rowing boats which may alter course suddenly and be aware of race officials afloat.
The event management team will be working on VHF ch72
Topsham Ferry causeway on the Topsham side of the River Exe
Number: 09/23. Date: 28 March 2023
A three metre by one metre fibreglass non slip tread panel is missing from the lower end of the Topsham ferry causeway due to water run off damage to fittings.
The missing panel is below the Topsham ferry safe operating area therefore there is no impact to ferry operations.
Vessels of any kind should not attempt to use the causeway to load / discharge passengers or in a zone six metres from the end of the causeway.
The missing panel will be marked by a red buoy with “Keep Away” painted on it.
Dredging Operations at Exmouth Marina
Number: 08/23. Date: 17 March 2023
Notice is hereby given that dredging will be taking place at Exmouth Marina from the 20th of March 2023 for a period of no longer than three weeks. The vessel The Mannin will be operating from 08.00 until 18.00 and will be moving between Exmouth Marina and the disposal site in Lyme Bay position:
- 50°31.30'N
- 003°21.50'W
Vessels are asked to proceed with caution and vessels wishing to transit through the marina must contact Exmouth Marina on VHF Channel 14 or telephone: 09780 798644.
Lateral Port Mark No.12 has been repositioned
Number: 07/23. Date: 6 March 2023
Notice is hereby given that the Lateral Port Mark No.12 has been repositioned. The new position is as follows:
- 50°36.931'N
- 003°25.416'W
Lateral Port Mark No.2 light is extinguished
Number: 06/23. Date: 23 February 2023
Notice is hereby given that the light on Lateral Port Mark No. 2 has been reported as extinguished.
The light will be reinstated as soon as possible.
Mariners are advised to navigate through the channel with caution.
Lateral Port Mark No.2 reinstated
Number: 05/23. Date: 15 February 2023
Notice is hereby given that the Lateral Port Mark No 2 is back on station at the following position:
- 50°36.094'N
- 003°23.581'W
Local Notice to Mariners: 34/22 has now been cancelled.
Lateral Port Mark No.12 has been repositioned
Notice is hereby given that the Lateral Port Mark No.12 has been repositioned. The new position is
as follows:
- 50°36.913'N
- 003°25.414'W
Exe Safe Water Mark light is reinstated
Number: 04/23. Date: 30 January 2023
Notice is hereby given that the light on the Exe Safe Water Mark light is reinstated.
Local Notice to Mariners: 02/23 has now been cancelled.
Lateral Starboard Mark No. 5 light is reinstated.
Number: 03/23. Date: 30 January 2023
Notice is given that the light on Lateral Starboard Mark No. 5 is reinstated. The light had an intermittent fault. We will continue to monitor the light over the next few days.
Local Notice to Mariners: 01/23 has now been cancelled.
Exe Safe Water Mark light is extinguished
Number: 02/23. Date: 15 January 2023
Notice is hereby given that the light on Exe Safe Water Mark is extinguished. The light will be reinstated as soon as possible.
Mariners are advised to navigate at the entrance of the channel with caution.
Lateral Starboard Mark No. 5 light is extinguished
Number: 01/23. Date: 11 January 2023
Notice is given that the light on Lateral Starboard Mark No. 5 is extinguished. The light will be reinstated as soon as possible.
Mariners are advised to navigate through the channel with caution.
Lateral Port Mark No. 2 is off Station
Number: 034/22. Date: 18 December 2022
Notice is given that Lateral Port Mark No. 2 is off station. The buoy will be replaced as soon as possible.
Mariners are advised to navigate through the entrance to the channel with caution.