10 December 2024
by Emma SlaterScotland’s recreational boating community has united in opposition to Peel Ports Clydeport’s proposal to introduce a conservancy fee for leisure craft operating in the Clydeport area. Concerns have been raised that the fee will restrict freedoms to sail in Scottish waters, harm marine tourism, and impact small coastal communities.
The issue was discussed extensively at two meetings of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism (24 September and 27 November 2024) and despite invitations to attend, Peel Ports declined to participate in these discussions, a move that has drawn criticism from stakeholders.
Speaking after the November meeting, Stuart McMillan MSP, Chair of the CPG, expressed the group’s collective frustration: “The sector is rightly angry about this proposal, as the rationale for the charge does not appear to stand up to scrutiny. Members of the CPG are particularly frustrated that Peel Ports have twice turned down invites to our meetings to explain their proposals, leading the sector to feel like this is being imposed upon them without their input.
“While Peel Ports have said that they plan to begin their consultation with the sector after the New Year, boaters feel like they have been treated with contempt. It was therefore agreed at Wednesday’s meeting that Peel Ports should abandon this proposal.
“Failing this, myself and other concerned MSPs have committed to work with the sector to identify if there are legislative steps that can be taken to challenge this fee. I set up this CPG in 2009, and though there have been a range of important issues affecting the sector in that time, the volume of correspondence and level of anger from the sector is nothing like I have seen before.”
Kenneth Gibson MSP, for Cunninghame North, echoed these sentiments: “The recreational boating sector contributes significantly to Scotland’s coastal communities. The last thing the sector needs is for recreational boaters to be targeted with an unjustified and extortionate fee.
“The Clyde’s waters belong to the people of Scotland – not corporate interests looking to squeeze every penny out of those who enjoy and rely on them. This ill-conceived plan should be abandoned immediately.”
Sector-Wide Concerns
The proposal has been met with widespread opposition from the boating community and related businesses. Key concerns include:
- Economic Impact: The fee could deter boaters, undermining marine tourism and harming small, coastal communities dependent on the sector.
- Lack of Transparency: Boaters question the rationale behind the fee and the absence of clear provisions for services or facilities in return.
- Inequitable Burden: Many feel the fee unfairly targets small leisure craft rather than larger vessels.
Finlo Cottier, CEO of RYA Scotland, stated: “This is not about recreational boaters being unwilling to pay for their pastime – sailors have always expected to pay for harbour, berthing, and mooring fees. This is about the imposition of a fee with no clear provision of service or facility across a huge part of the recreational boating community.
“Peel Ports have tried to equate the proposed fee to those applied in other harbours across the UK, but this does not stand up to scrutiny. The Clyde is unique in the UK in its size and character, and the Clydeport area which Peel Port controls extends well beyond the commercial shipping channels.”
Daniel Steel, CEO of Sail Scotland, added: “Marine tourism and recreational boating are essential to many fragile and rural communities in Scotland. Peel Ports’ proposals to date have failed to take account of the potential impacts, without proper consultation with our industry and the businesses and communities who would be impacted. Much more thought and consideration is required before introduction of any fees, and we call for open dialogue and scrutiny of any plans without delay.”
British Marine Scotland, through its Chair Sarah Kennedy, highlighted the broader implications for the industry: “British Marine Scotland members are appalled by Peel Ports’ proposed industry-destructive quasi tax. Members are so far unanimously opposed to the new charge. There is significant concern that the proposed charge will likely impact up to 50% of the boats in Scotland and in so doing, seriously damage Scotland’s marine tourism industry.”
Stakeholders have urged Peel Ports to abandon the proposed fee or, at a minimum, conduct genuine consultations with all relevant parties, including RYA Scotland, Sail Scotland, and British Marine Scotland.
The recreational boating sector is rallying to protect Scotland’s waters, ensuring they remain accessible for locals and visitors alike.
Further comments from CPG members:
Eric Sweeney, representative from Sailing Cruising Scotland (SCS) commented: “In discussions with representatives of the members of SCS, of which there are over 13,000, it has become apparent that Peel Ports, as port regulator, need to be regulated themselves.
“In this regard, we believe that relevant Scottish Ministers should issue a Harbour Order to Peel Ports that ensures leisure craft under 24 metres in length are exempt of any port fees whatsoever.
“In addition, there is no appetite among our members to pay this fee and no appetite among marinas to collect the fee. Consequently, there is a danger that leisure vessels will deactivate location devices, which would be a safety concern. Fundamentally, Peel Ports’ plan to introduce a conservancy fee is outrageous.”
Ian Macdonald of Clyde Yacht Clubs Association added: “Representatives of our member clubs and classes already contribute a large amount of volunteer time to help Peel Ports fulfil their statutory responsibilities and commercial functions including submission of detailed information on organised events and contributions to the Clyde Moorings Committee. It is also difficult to see how any fees such as those proposed could be collected economically or equitably.”
Alan Kohler from Cruising Association Celtic Section said: “The area proposed to be subject to this new fee appears to be quite unprecedented in Scottish, and indeed UK terms. This covers a huge area of waters, most of which is not recognisable as a “harbour” in common usage, and indeed much is, by contrast, remote and beautiful waters with minimal commercial traffic – such as the Kyles of Bute and the entire length of Loch Fyne.
“As cruising sailors, we don’t object to paying for services which we use. However, it is not clear what, if any, services Clydeport would actually provide to leisure craft in return for these proposed charges, particularly in the areas well away from the commercial shipping ports. A lot has changed in the wider Clyde since Clydeport was given such a wide remit in 1965.”