All vessels using Chichester Harbour, including paddleboards, kayaks and canoes, have a statutory obligation to pay Harbour Dues. The revenue derived from these dues is used by Chichester Harbour Conservancy to help meet the cost of running the harbour, including maintaining launch sites, navigation marks & jetties, monitoring water quality and enforcing the byelaws.
STAY SAFE ON THE WATER
Contact us for advice on staying safe in Chichester Harbour.
Before taking to the water we recommend reading:
These free leaflets are available from the Harbour Offices at Itchenor and Emsworth, and can be found on our website.
Do you have your buoyancy aid or PFD?
Always wear a buoyancy aid or Personal Floatation Device.
Do you know where you are going?
Local information can be found at various locations across the harbour, if in doubt, pop in or call one of the Harbour Offices before you venture out.
Have you checked the weather, wind and tide?
Be prepared for any eventuality, know what conditions are not suitable and do not exceed your own ability. Knowledge of the tide times is critical, large parts of the harbour dry out at low water and can potentially leave you stranded
Do you have a means of contacting someone if you get into difficulty?
Take a mobile phone or VHF with you on the water. In an emergency use VHF Ch16, or call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
‘Chichester Harbour Radio’ can be contacted on VHF Ch14 during office hours.
Have you told someone where you are going?
Let a friend or family member know where you are going and when you plan to return, if they don’t hear of your return they can raise the alarm.
Take only photos, leave only footprints
In order to conserve the wildlife of the harbour while enjoying it at the same time:
- Use recognized launching and landing points and avoid trampling saltmarsh by sticking to public footpaths.
- Take any litter home
- Keep a reasonable distance from flocks of birds and 50m from seals on the mud. If birds take flight or seals enter the water in reaction to your presence, it means you are too close. Please move away from the area immediately.
In accordance with Section 73 of the Chichester Harbour Conservancy Act 1971, the receipt for payment of harbour dues for the current season, which starts on 01 April and runs until 31 March of the following year, is issued in the form of a plaque. Where possible this should be affixed on the port side aft on the hull of the craft for which payment has been made, in accordance with the instructions on the reverse of the plaque. Where plaques cannot be stuck on to the vessel (for example for inflatable vessels), they can either be stuck around an oar or a laminated copy can be requested from the Harbour Office which can either be tied on the the vessel or kept in a dry sack.
THE CHARGE WILL BE DEEMED NOT TO HAVE BEEN PAID IN RESPECT OF ANY VESSEL ON THE WATER UNLESS THE PLAQUE HAS EITHER BEEN AFFIXED OR CAN BE PRESENTED IF REQUESTED.
The owner of a vessel evading payment or not displaying a plaque is liable to a penalty three times the amount of the charge plus VAT.
The current Harbour Dues can be found by clicking here:
To obtain your Harbour Dues plaque please contact the Harbour Office on 01243 512301 (Itchenor) or 01243 376422 (Emsworth)
Alternatively, please complete this form (this is only required for annual harbour dues):