New pontoons 'fantastic' for Plymouth tourism

Three new pontoons have been officially opened in Plymouth.

The Mayflower Pontoons will provide more than 60m of additional mooring space and provide a pick up and drop off area for charter boats.

Harbour master Richard Allan said the facility had been made possible by funds from the Fisheries and Seafood Support fund.

Council leader Tudor Evans said the pontoons were "a fantastic addition" to the city's tourism offering.

Mr Evans said Plymouth's waterscape was "at the core" of the city's identity, and said the pontoons would "help create memories of family holidays".

The new pontoons, which are part of an extension to the Barbican Landing Stage (BLS), will allow boats trips from "the heart of the historic Barbican" - according to local skipper Dave Uren.

Mr Uren said he was "delighted" to have a permanent base. "We are also involved in science data and gathering, and it is fantastic that we can now load equipment and board our scientists from this facility too," he said.

The new facility was built on the success of a pilot in 2023 involving several charter vessels.

Mr Allan said the project could "not have gone ahead" without the support of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Fisheries and Seafood Support fund.

"It is fantastic to see this aspiration of facilities for licensed charter vessels and recreational anglers at the BLS delivered for them," he said.

Paul Errington, the MMO's acting director of finance, said the new pontoons would create opportunities for the businesses which rely on the BLS, those they employ, and the visitors they welcome each year.

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