Who controls movements in Plymouth Sound?

Longroom Port Control monitors VHF 14 around the clock, and vessels over 20 metres call at the charted reporting points before entering. Movements in the Hamoaze are controlled on the same channel.

Where do superyachts berth in Plymouth?

Plymouth Yacht Haven on the Cattewater takes yachts to 45 metres at all states of tide with no lock, and Sutton Harbour takes yachts to 40 metres through its lock. Larger yachts berth at Millbay by arrangement or anchor in the Sound.

Where does a yacht take fuel in Plymouth?

Plymouth Yacht Haven has a fuel berth with diesel around the clock, on VHF 80. Larger quantities come by road tanker.

Plymouth

Plymouth is a naval port with a deep water Sound behind the breakwater, and marinas that take yachts to 45m.

Plymouth Sound from the breakwater to the Cattewater and the Hamoaze. Marker at Plymouth Yacht Haven. Chart by savvy navvy. Not to be used for navigation.

Brief

Plymouth Sound is entered either side of the breakwater, by the Western Channel for deep draught, and the fairway leads north past Drake's Island to the Cattewater, Sutton Harbour and the Hamoaze. The range at Devonport is about 4.7m at springs. Yachts to 45m berth at Plymouth Yacht Haven on the Cattewater, to 40m in Sutton Harbour through the lock, and larger yachts by arrangement at Millbay or to anchor in the Sound.

Approach

The breakwater runs a mile across the Sound in about 11m, with the deep water channel to the west and the Eastern Channel on the other side. Inside, depths run from 26m to 5.5m and the main fairway leads north east towards the Hoe. Smeaton Pass is the shipping channel past the Hoe to the Cattewater, and the Drake Channel runs west of Drake's Island to the Hamoaze and the marinas at Stonehouse. The Bridge, the small craft passage west of the island, has a least charted depth of 1.3m and is for settled conditions only.

Longroom Port Control monitors VHF 14 around the clock, and vessels over 20m call at the charted reporting points before entering. Movements in the Hamoaze are controlled by Flag on VHF 14. The water north of the breakwater is a narrow channel under Rule 9.

Pilotage

Pilotage is compulsory over 50m in the Plymouth pilotage district, for which the Cattewater Harbour Commissioners are the authority. Pilots are available around the clock, booked through the Commissioners and co-ordinated by Longroom. Exemption certificates are issued for sea to Millbay and sea to the Cattewater and Sutton Harbour.

Tides

Reference: Plymouth, Devonport
HW Dover: −0540
MHWS: 5.5m
MHWN: 4.4m
MLWN: 2.2m
MLWS: 0.8m

Tide	Height or time
Reference	Plymouth, Devonport
HW Dover	−0540
MHWS	5.5m
MHWN	4.4m
MLWN	2.2m
MLWS	0.8m

Heights are from published tide tables and are checked against the Admiralty predictions for the day.

Plymouth, Devonport

High water, Thu 24 Sept, 17:13 5.1m
Low water, Thu 24 Sept, 23:31 1.3m
High water, Fri 25 Sept, 05:41 5.0m
Low water, Fri 25 Sept, 11:50 1.3m
High water, Fri 25 Sept, 17:54 5.3m
Low water, Sat 26 Sept, 00:12 1.0m

Admiralty predictions, UK time, refreshed hourly. Planning information, not for navigation.

Berths

Plymouth Yacht Haven: OperatorYacht Havens; Maximum LOA45m; Draught2.4m MLWS or more; NotesCattewater, Mount Batten. All states of tide, no lock. 32 amp and water on the superyacht pontoons. VHF 80
Queen Anne's Battery: OperatorMDL Marinas; Maximum LOA42m on the visitors' pontoon; NotesBelow the Citadel. VHF 80
Sutton Harbour: OperatorSutton Harbour Group; Maximum LOA40m; Draught3.5m; NotesIn the Barbican through a lock of 44m by 12m, cills 1.5m below chart datum, staffed 24 hours, free flow three hours either side of high water. VHF 12, Sutton Lock
King Point Marina: OperatorSutton Harbour Group; Maximum LOA25m; NotesMillbay. Metered power and water
Mayflower Marina: OperatorMayflower Marina; Maximum LOA20m; NotesStonehouse, by the Drake Channel. 16 amp at every berth
Millbay Docks: OperatorAssociated British Ports; Maximum LOABy arrangement; NotesCruise and ferry berths
The Sound: Maximum LOAAnchorage; NotesBehind the breakwater, by arrangement with VTS

Berth	Operator	Maximum LOA	Draught	Notes
Plymouth Yacht Haven	Yacht Havens	45m	2.4m MLWS or more	Cattewater, Mount Batten. All states of tide, no lock. 32 amp and water on the superyacht pontoons. VHF 80
Queen Anne's Battery	MDL Marinas	42m on the visitors' pontoon		Below the Citadel. VHF 80
Sutton Harbour	Sutton Harbour Group	40m	3.5m	In the Barbican through a lock of 44m by 12m, cills 1.5m below chart datum, staffed 24 hours, free flow three hours either side of high water. VHF 12, Sutton Lock
King Point Marina	Sutton Harbour Group	25m		Millbay. Metered power and water
Mayflower Marina	Mayflower Marina	20m		Stonehouse, by the Drake Channel. 16 amp at every berth
Millbay Docks	Associated British Ports	By arrangement		Cruise and ferry berths
The Sound		Anchorage		Behind the breakwater, by arrangement with VTS

Operators' published figures, checked 23 September 2026, confirmed before quoting. No three phase power is published at any Plymouth marina.

Alongside

Plymouth Yacht Haven has a fuel berth with red diesel around the clock, on VHF 80. Queen Anne's Battery, Sutton Harbour and Mayflower also have fuel berths, Mayflower's drying at low water. Larger quantities come by road tanker.

Pump-out is at Plymouth Yacht Haven and Mayflower, and near Sutton Harbour.

Ashore

There is no licensed heliport in Plymouth; landing is by arrangement. Exeter Airport, with XLR Jet Centre handling, is open 08:00 to 20:00 and around the clock on request, and Cornwall Airport Newquay is to the west. Plymouth station is on the main line to London Paddington, and Brittany Ferries sail from Millbay to Roscoff and Santander.

Plymouth Yacht Haven lifts 75 tonnes, Queen Anne's Battery 40 and Mayflower 33. Princess Yachts builds at Plymouth. For larger work the nearest yards are Pendennis and Balaena at Falmouth.

Questions

At what length is pilotage compulsory at Plymouth?: Pilotage is compulsory over 50 metres in the Plymouth pilotage district. Pilots are available around the clock, booked through the Cattewater Harbour Commissioners and co-ordinated by Longroom Port Control.
Who controls movements in Plymouth Sound?: Longroom Port Control monitors VHF 14 around the clock, and vessels over 20 metres call at the charted reporting points before entering. Movements in the Hamoaze are controlled on the same channel.
Where do superyachts berth in Plymouth?: Plymouth Yacht Haven on the Cattewater takes yachts to 45 metres at all states of tide with no lock, and Sutton Harbour takes yachts to 40 metres through its lock. Larger yachts berth at Millbay by arrangement or anchor in the Sound.
Where does a yacht take fuel in Plymouth?: Plymouth Yacht Haven has a fuel berth with diesel around the clock, on VHF 80. Larger quantities come by road tanker.

Charges are revised each year. This page is a guide, not a quotation.

Sources

Plymouth VTS; Cattewater Harbour Commissioners and the Plymouth pilotage direction; Yacht Havens; MDL Marinas; Sutton Harbour Group; Mayflower Marina; XLR Jet Centres. Checked 22 and 23 September 2026.