Press Officer Rick Purnell writes ….

Tales from our Teignmouth Harbour Pilot…

Our Speaker Finder, Terry Jackson has a neighbour, Mark Fleming, who is one of our local Pilots guiding ships into Teignmouth docks. “Don’t know much about that – lets find out” said Terry. Between them and our tech-savvy Secretary, John Polley they put together Mark’s maiden presentation to Teignmouth Mens’ Probus Club.

Well worth the effort. Pilots of necessity require to have been captain of many and various merchant shipping during a distinguished maritime career. Mark’s apprenticeship and work experience was of interest which started as a boat hand on a Liverpudlian Pilot Cutter, oil tanker’s second mate moving on to container ships, motor vehicle carriers and such like. More recently he was working with off-shore oil rigs and pipe and cable layers in the Gulf of Mexico before becoming a self-employed pilot with the Teignmouth Harbour Authority team.

Teignmouth has its particular difficulties especially the shifting sands of the estuary and sand bar and the regular need to assist nature to keep a deeper channel open by bucket dredging. The movement towards larger cargo shipping has impacted on the use of our port but there are many cargos where a smaller ship (200/400 tonner) is viable and trade continues to flourish employing two pilots. Pilotage into Teignmouth Harbour is compulsory for vessels over 30 metres. Mostly the pilot provides local knowledge and guidance for a ships captain but on occasions, the pilot does take the helm, (suitably insured of course). Most transits occur around high water slack and larger vessels can come with ‘springs’ - higher tides.

Some interesting anecdotes of incidents and unusual visiting vessels, sparked off a lengthy Q&A interchange with members which had to be drawn to a close simply because we had run out of time for a ‘Pasty & Ale lunch.

 Secretary John Polley gave the vote of thanks for a fascinating insight of very local interest about Pilotage of our own ancient port.