MEET THE HARBOUR MASTER
Joanna, our Roving Reporter
Joanna, our Roving Reporter
By our Roving Reporter Joanna
TONY AND HIS TEAM – ALWAYS HAPPY TO HELP
Nestled away in the historic town walls of Conwy, lies the Harbour Master’s office. This small building gives no indication of the wealth of knowledge and responsibilities of the team of people who work there. Leading this team is Harbour Master Tony Mead with 5
Harbour Masters Office
permanent staff and 14 part timers. It was with great pleasure that my husband Ian and I visited Tony and his team on a Saturday morning in July.
The River Conwy and the sea, all islands, streams, creeks, channels including the marinas in terms of the harbour revision order fall within the authority of the Conwy Harbour Master. Conwy currently accommodates in excess of 400 leisure craft on moorings and pontoons in the estuary, with over 500 craft based at Conwy Marina and over 150 at Deganwy Quays Marina.
The principal responsibilities of the Harbour Authority include the maintenance of all navigation aids in the Harbour and approach channel and the servicing and maintenance of all swinging moorings, pontoons, jetties and slip ways in the estuary. Other responsibilities include:
- To work with many partner organisations such as the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, R.N.L.I., Environment Agency, Countryside Council for Wales, Keep Wales Tidy, North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee and the Crown Estate
- To work with various clubs and associations to facilitate activities e.g. local sailing clubs, Colwyn Jet Ski Club, North Wales Power Kite Club and North Wales Cruising Club
- Assisting the general public when and where required
- Providing basic First Aid cover at main promenade
- The safety and enjoyment of all visitors to the coastline
- To police and enforce relevant bye-laws relating to all areas
- To control and monitor the launching of all types of craft and general water activities, including checking insurance and safety equipment
Plus much, much more.
TONY MEAD, THE CONWY HARBOUR MASTER
Tony has been the Harbourmaster in Conwy for 19 years and he is responsible for all aspects of the work of the Harbour Authority, which is completely self funding and not subsidised by the Local Authority. He keeps his own
Lt. Cmdr. Tony Mead (Harbour Master)
yacht on the river and is an active committee member of North Wales Cruising Club.
Whilst the duty of enforcement with regards bylaws and maritime legislation belong to the Harbour Master, Tony, a keen sailor himself, believes that we are all here to enjoy this fantastic leisure activity and his philosophy, and the philosophy of his staff, is to advise rather than to enforce. It became very clear the more we chatted with Tony that assisting people with helpful advice is very important to him and his team. For instance, the maritime bylaws state that the maximum speed limit along the channel is 10 knots. It could be quite feasible for Tony’s staff to sit in a boat with a speed gun and prosecute all people who exceed this speed limit. However, this is not Tony’s way and he would prefer to advise people to slow down. However, if after several warnings, these same people choose not to behave safely, he will then look at prosecution.
When I asked Tony what qualifications were needed to become a Harbour Master, he replied “ to spend half a lifetime at sea, as you cannot train on the job.” Tony spent 25 years with the Royal Navy, taking command of various ships including mine sweepers, training ships and patrol boats all over the world including the Falkland Islands. Tony has spent his life at sea right from being a young boy, joining the Navy at just 15 years old and later becoming a Commissioned Naval Officer.
A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT
When I asked Tony what he felt was one of his greatest achievements during his tenure as Harbour Master, he replied “the Conwy River Festival”. Tony has been the driving force behind the highly successful Conwy River Festival, which has developed into the major sailing and maritime event in North Wales. With next year in mind, Tony would love a volunteer to come forward to assist in organising more events to represent motor cruising. If anyone would like to offer their services please contact Tony direct.
THE FUNNIEST MOMENT
I then went on to ask Tony about one of his funniest moments as Harbour Master.
“Some time ago there was a gentleman who we liked to call “Captain Calamity” and wherever he went it culminated in the launch of the lifeboat being called out. One particular day he called the Harbour Master’s office by phone, rather than radio, and I happened to pick up the call. He explained that he was in Conwy Harbour and wanted to get ashore and required the use of the launch. He had failed to contact them direct via his radio and I therefore offered to contact them on his behalf. He was in a blue and white boat and just inside the harbour. The launch duly went out to meet him but 10 minutes later Captain Calamity rang me again saying that the launch had not turned up. Once again I called through to the launch who could see no sign of him.
I called him back and asked him to please describe to me exactly where in the harbour he was. Could he see the Marina? – no he couldn’t see a marina. Could he see a white hotel on the left-hand bank? – no he couldn’t see a white hotel. I then went on to ask – “what can you see sir?” I can see a black and white lighthouse……..”
We all know he had just gone through Puffin Sound!
ONE OF THE TEAM
Ian and I met John Nicol recently, who is employed by the Harbour Master, on one of his regular walkabouts round
John Nichol
the Conwy marina. The buoys in the approach channel have recently been moved and John has been letting everyone know. We found John to be really friendly and helpful and he is happy to discuss and advise on all aspects of boating/sailing safely. Once we told him that we now have a VHF radio on board, not having had one on our last boat, he willingly volunteered to spend a couple of hours with us. During this time he gave us the run down on operation of the radio and the correct channels to use. It was during this session that we learnt not to say “over and out” – apparently we have been watching too many movies! To be correct its “over” when you pass the call over for a reply and “out” to finish the call.
John also went through some charts with us and this gave us the confidence to try a new route round the Orme the very next day. So next time you see John on the marina, if you need any help or advice please do not hesitate to ask him.
It was with regret that Ian and I left the Harbour Master’s office. It was a most interesting morning and we could have listened to Tony all day. We would like to thank Tony for his time and we now know that if we have any queries at all, Tony and his team will be more than happy to help.
Tony, John and the team can be contacted on:
Email: Harbour@conwy.gov.uk or by phone: 01492 596253
