Loader
UKHO announces withdrawal of Admiralty Port Approach Guides
Feb 2023
Charles Fowler
UKHO announces withdrawal of Admiralty Port Approach Guides
The UK Hydrographic Office will be withdrawing the remaining Port Approach Guides from its ADMIRALTY portfolio on 20 April 2023. ADMIRALTY Port Approach Guides were launched in 2014 to help simplify a number of passage planning tasks and support Master Pilot Exchange (MPX). Used alongside mandatory navigational charts, whether paper or digital, Port Approach Guides helped [...]
A Brief History of Gig Rowing
Jan 2023
Charles Fowler
A Brief History of Gig Rowing
Once a lucrative form of employment for seafarers, and now a popular sport, pilot gig clubs are found in nearly every seaside and harbour town throughout Cornwall. The Cornish Pilot Gig has a long and hard-working history. The historic tradition of gig rowing has been alive in Cornwall since the 18th Century, where there would [...]
A Momentous End to an Historic Week
Sep 2022
Charles Fowler
A Momentous End to an Historic Week
The River Thames took centre stage for the Reflections flotilla to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth and the accession of King Charles III. The Reflections flotilla tribute to Queen Elizabeth Il and heralding the accession of King Charles Ill attracted attention around the globe (24 September). Over 150 boats, illuminated with white lights, proceeded along the River Thames from Chelsea [...]
Marine Leisure Users Welcome U-Turn on Diesel Taxation
Mar 2021
Charles Fowler
Marine Leisure Users Welcome U-Turn on Diesel Taxation
The leisure marine industry has welcomed the news that private and commercial boats will be able to continue using red diesel, following a government u-turn. The decision, announced during the Spring Budget, has overturned the ruling last July from HMRC stating that privately-owned pleasure craft would not be able to use red diesel from April [...]
Roadmap to the Reopening of Leisure Boating
Mar 2021
Charles Fowler
Roadmap to the Reopening of Leisure Boating
British Marine has welcomed the news that from 8 March all forms of watersports, including the use of privately-owned craft and self-drive day hire boats for single households and support bubbles, can resume in England. Following discussions between the government and British Marine a roadmap has been produced detailing how the leisure marine industry should [...]
Santa’s Shredding It Up..!
Dec 2020
Charles Fowler
Santa’s Shredding It Up..!

There is little doubt that 2020 has been a highly unusual year. With great challenges regarding the spread of Covid-19 the UK government has introduced, repealed and subsequently reintroduced a range of measures to stem the spread of this virus. At a time of increasing propagation and therefore risk, every once in a while one […]

Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society – Photography Competition 2020
Sep 2020
Charles Fowler
Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society – Photography Competition 2020

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has announced the winner of its eighth annual photography competition, showcasing images relating to all aspects of the UK’s historic relationship with the sea. In a record-breaking year of more than 2,000 entries, the judges awarded the overall prize to Laurence Hartwell for his entry, ‘Beam Trawlers Landing To The Fish […]