Can you spot the swimmers in the above photo?
Difficult isn’t it?
Now imagine you’re a Pilot on board a commercial vessel navigating the Cattewater, just minutes after this first image was captured on our CCTV… how could the Pilot or Master have seen them?
The swimmers in question, put themselves at extreme risk, as well as other vessels by swimming in an unsafe location.
Cattewater Harbour is a busy commercial port with a designated shipping channel – it is prohibited to swim within the Cattewater at any time unless with express permission from the Harbour Master, granted occasionally for organised swim events. Each year we receive multiple incident reports from ship’s Masters and Pilots involving swimmers impeding the navigation of large commercial ships within the Cattewater.
Plymouth provides wonderful opportunities to swim in the sea, and has a range of designated swim areas, clearly buoyed and marked, but the Cattewater is not one of them. Bathing areas are shown on current Admiralty charts and marked with seasonal marker buoys and include Bovisand Bay, Crownhill Bay, Cawsand Bay, Firestone Bay and Tinside East. Swimmers should always be visible when swimming in designated areas by wearing a highly visible swimming hat and using a swimming tow float. For more information please visit resources: KHM Plymouth – Swimming and download the Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum Waterways Guide.
Please be aware though that as the temperature rises and a swim to cool off may be tempting, cold water shock is still a very real possibility, do not underestimate it. Please visit RNLI – know the risks of cold water shock.
The Harbour team engaged with the two people in these images. On this occasion we won’t be progressing a prosecution, but as the navigation and conservancy authority for Cattewater Harbour, we are able to do so should it be deemed necessary, especially if interfering with the safety of navigation and/or putting life at risk. Swimmers may face a level 3 fine, plus legal costs if found guilty.
Stay safe this summer. Swim in designated areas.
