Boat owners have been notified of the latest “mooring fee adjustments” with an 8.3% increase taking effect on 1 April.

The letter was recently sent to all boat owners who currently have a mooring – along with details about the waiting list for those wanting one.

Pictured: The letter sent to boat owners was signed by the Assistant Harbour Master.

The letter confirms mooring fees will rise by 5.3% – which is called an “adjustment to align with the Retail Price Index” – along with an additional 3% “to assist in the funding of essential operational and infrastructure improvements”.

The letter does not state what those “essential operational and infrastructure improvements” are but it does state that the mooring fee increase is “a substantial reduction from the fee increases originally proposed and are a direct result of the valuable feedback received from stakeholders during the consultation process”.

By contrast, the Guernsey Boat Owners Association has previously said that while the 2025 proposals – inflation plus 3% – might look like they have taken their concerns, debated extensively last year, into account, they had not.

An example of the actual cost to moor a boat in St Peter Port Harbour after 1 April this year was £1,348pa for a vessel of 20′ x 7′. The Guernsey Boat Owners Association said that is a 45% rise compared to the fee charged in 2023.

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Pictured: Nick Guillemette of the Guernsey Boat Owners Association.

The letter also contained details of changes to the ‘waiting list’ situation.

All current applications will be contacted to confirm their ongoing interest in taking on a mooring with 14 days to confirm if they do or don’t.

They will also be offered a refund if they choose to withdraw from the list.

Boat owners who currently have a mooring have also been asked to sign a new ‘mooring agreement’, which Guernsey Harbours said is needed “to comply with Trading Standards” legislation.