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Dart Harbour History
Dart Harbour (Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority) was formed in 1976 from two organisations, the River Dart Navigation Commission (RDNC) and the Dart Harbour Commission (DHC). Both of these organisations were set up in the early 1880s when the railway was opening up vast swathes of the countryside.
The Duke of Somerset, with the aid of an act of parliament, created the River Dart Navigation Commission to improve the river’s navigation while entrepreneur Charles Seale Hayne used the coming of the railway to attract money to improve and upgrade the port’s facilities. He formed the Harbour Commission and encouraged it to do everything it could to promote and encourage shipping, including building or maintaining quays, providing buoys, lights or beacons.
The local economy was boosted even more when, in 1863, the Royal Navy decided to train naval cadets on the Dart and stationed first the Britannia, then the Hindustan, in the river.
Former Dart Harbour board member, Mervyn King, who retired last year, recalls the early days. “In 1955 when I bought my first boat I informed the local Harbour Master, who then told me where and how to moor my boat. At that time, there were no Harbour Dues, no Mooring licence, no Duchy Levy to pay!
“I was first elected to the River Dart Navigation Commissioners representing boating members in 1973, the commission controlled the river from Dittisham to the Totnes weir.
Former Board Member, Mervyn King“In 1975, the RDNC amalgamated with the Dartmouth Harbour Commission, an act of parliament was raised and the Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority (DHNA) was duly formed. It controlled the Harbour from Inner Froward Point to the weir at Totnes.
“The RDNC had 32 members and the DHC had 16 and on amalgamation and with great difficulty the DHNA was reduced to 15 members.
“When I first joined the RDNC in 1973, 75% of the activities on the river were commercial and 25% leisure. Today that figure has completely changed and is now 95% leisure and 5% commercial. This has had a major effect on the environment on and around the river and in order to sustain such an increase in the leisure activities many new moorings had to be provided.
“I like to think this has been carried out in a sympathetic way. Mooring areas have been established but there are large areas which have been kept moorings-free to allow visiting yachtsmen to safely moor at anchor in the quiet and serenity of the areas of outstanding natural beauty.”