• Port and Harbours Report for the 2013/14 Financial Year
• 2 Ramsgate Maritime Plan
• 3 Report on the last 12 months
• 4 Statistics
• 5 Year End Financial Report
• 6 Statement of Responsibilities for the Statement of Accounts
• 7 Independent Audit Report
• 8 Port and Harbour note 45 to the accounts from main statement
• 9 Focus moving forward
• 8 Key Contacts

1  About our Port and Harbours:

The Port of Ramsgate

The Port of Ramsgate is one of 26 municipal ports on England and Wales.

Set on 32 acres of dedicated port land, the Port of Ramsgate has three modern roll on roll off (Ro-Ro) bridges, capable of accommodating conventional Ro-Ro fast ferry freight services. Full passenger and freight vessel facilities allow the Port to operate and service the three berths simultaneously, allowing Ramsgate to handle up to 500,000 freight units and five million passengers each year.

The Port can accommodate vessels of up to 180 metres in length with 6.5 metres draft with no tidal restrictions and has the capacity to handle multi-decked vessels, stern and quarter ramps. With easy access to the open sea, it takes an average of 20 minutes from berth to clearing a buoyed channel and access is possible at all states of the tide and in most weather conditions.

With a dedicated £30 million road into the port and dual carriageway links to the M2 motorway, driving times between Thanet and the outskirts of London have been cut to just over an hour. High speed passenger rail services started in December 2009, cutting the journey time from Ramsgate to London to just 63 minutes.

The Port of Ramsgate operates an aggregate import facility, in partnership with Brett Aggregates, which can accommodate vessels of up to 90 metres in length, carrying 1,200 tonnes of cargo. Type one, crushed slag and crushed limestone is imported, which is then used for road and building bases.

With sufficient available land and deep water to allow future diversification and the availability of hard standing and berthing slots, the Port of Ramsgate is well placed for short sea shipping trades and to capitalise on the predicted over capacity in the channel ports in the next 10 years.

Ramsgate has experienced significant growth in activity on the back of the offshore wind industry. Ramsgate is now a renewable energy hub for offshore wind following commitments from two projects off the Kent coast including the now operational Thanet Offshore Windfarm (TOW), which until recently held the ‘world’s largest’ title but has now been overtaken by ‘London Array’ wind farm with 175 turbines. London Array undertook managed the construction of their world leading project from Ramsgate and Ramsgate is home to their operations and maintenance base. Between Vattenfall and London Array, 305 turbines are presently serviced from Ramsgate.

 The Ramsgate Marina

The busy Harbour serves local fisherman and international yachtsmen alike, providing a wide range of facilities. There are many interesting activities constantly taking place all around this historic Harbour with many vantage points for the visitor to enjoy the pleasant surroundings. Visitors can take a gentle cruise around the bustling harbour or a walk along the East Pier, being the perfect setting to relax and enjoy the picturesque views of Ramsgate. Whilst visiting the Harbour, they can also take the opportunity to visit the Sailor's Church, Jacob's Ladder in Military Road, the RNLI Lifeboat Station and the Royal Temple Yacht Club.

The Royal Harbour Ramsgate, whilst having modern facilities, has an interesting historical background, dating back to Roman times, with many original features still in existence.

The Harbour was given its Royal title in 1821 when George IV sailed from Ramsgate to Hanover and back. He was so taken with the hospitality given to him by the people of Ramsgate that he decreed Ramsgate Harbour should have the right to add 'Royal' to its name. It is the only 'Royal' harbour in the United Kingdom.

Thanet District Council is committed to customer care and constantly strives to improve services within the Harbour.

As Kent’s premier marina we offer our visitors the kind of welcome you would expect from the UK’s only Royal Harbour. In 2011 the marina achieved the prestigious Four Gold Anchor Award, evidence of our commitment to provide the best in customer care and facilities. 

Margate Harbour

Margate Harbour is a small drying site which is protected by a large stone breakwater, the Harbour Wall itself being constructed as a series of compartments filled with rubble and shingle and has now firmly withstood the fury of the sea for 186 years

The harbour is suitable for boats that can take the ground and sit reasonably upright as the bottom consists of fairly hard sand. It is also really only suitable for shallow draught boats as parts of the harbour dry.

The harbour is mainly used by small launch type craft fit on trailers and to this end there are slipways. Currently the local sailing club operate from this harbour and surrounding slipways.

The Turner Contemporary art gallery occupies a prominent position next to the harbour.

Broadstairs Harbour

Situated at the extreme north-eastern corner of the Kent coast and protected by a large stone breakwater, Broadstairs is predominantly used for Leisure and Fishing. Although the harbour still supports a small number of commercial fishing boats, these days the majority of sea-going is for pleasure rather than profit. Currently the local sailing club operates out of this harbour.