Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority Celebrates 50 Years of Stewardship, Sustainability and Service to the River Dart
The Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority (DHNA) proudly marks its 50th anniversary today, celebrating five decades of responsible stewardship, maritime safety, environmental enhancement, and support for both commercial and leisure activity in the River Dart.
Managing a 12-nautical mile stretch of navigable waterway from Dartmouth’s harbour entrance up to Totnes Weir, it supports a broad range of marine activity, from leisure craft and superyachts to commercial vessels and cruise liners, with the harbour being used and enjoyed by both the local community and visitors and businesses from further afield.
The Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority was formed in April 1976 by the amalgamation of two long-standing bodies, River Dart Navigation Commission and the Dart Harbour Commission and is now celebrating 50 years of serving this stunning location!
And it’s safe to say there has been a fair amount of development, change and improvement over the past 50 years! And the harbour has certainly seen some sights!
From seals and porpoises gliding through the waters and glamorous superyachts mooring up to appreciate their beautiful surroundings to welcoming cruise ships, including the majestic The World, historic paddle steamers, regattas and Royal Navy officer cadet training ships, there is always water-based activity to watch and enjoy.
It is reported that Sir Walter Raleigh liked to sit atop the Anchorstone, the rock in the river just south of Dittisham, to smoke his pipe although, obviously, this wasn’t in the Authority’s time!
Raleigh would definitely be highly impressed with the sustainable progress – the fully-electric water taxi Phoebe was once a diesel vessel and is now powered by non-toxic marine-grade batteries, and she has saved thousands of litres of diesel and several tonnes of CO₂ on her journeys so far. She will no doubt be the founding member of a clean energy fleet of the future.
Sustainability remains a core priority of DHNA, working to safeguard the Dart Estuary’s unique habitats, with projects including the Saltmarsh Project, aiming to restore vital saltmarsh habitats along the River Dart, alongside work to improve the quality of the water in the river.
In the earlier days commercial operations dominated the waterway but today leisure use accounts for around 95% of all activity, demonstrating the area’s transformation into one of the South West’s premier destinations for sailing, recreational boating and waterside tourism.
From maintaining 1,600 permanent moorings, as well as navigation marks and buoys, and developing commercial activities, to ensuring environmental protection of the harbour and working alongside community groups, DHNA prides itself on playing a vital role in welcoming everyone into the harbour.
Operating as an independent, not‑for‑profit trust port, the Authority puts the local community at the centre of operations – the Dart Harbour Community Fund aims to provide access to the Dart and offer water-based activities to young people or disadvantaged people in the local community, which has included a successful scheme teaching local schoolchildren to swim.
As Dart Harbour celebrates its Golden Anniversary, the Authority remains committed to honouring its heritage while embracing the future. Through sustainable management, continued investment in modern harbour facilities, and strong partnerships across the region, DHNA will continue to protect, enhance and celebrate one of the UK’s most iconic waterways.
Here’s to many more golden opportunities to come over the next 50 years and beyond!
View more news
