Falmouth Harbour Spends £50,000 on New Superyacht Moorings

What does it take to keep a superyacht happy? Apparently around £50,000 worth of new mooring buoys, and Falmouth Harbour has just made that exact bet.

The harbour has installed new high-capacity mooring buoys designed to handle superyachts and large commercial vessels, replacing post-WW2 steel Admiralty buoys that had reached the end of their operational life.

Out with the Steel, In with the Self-Fendering

The new Caldy and Frigate buoys are described as “self-fendering”, meaning they absorb impacts rather than transferring them to the vessel. The 3x2m buoys have a buoyancy of 7000kg and were designed and built by Plymouth-based specialists AIS Marine.

Unlike the old steel buoys, the new design means that if a vessel makes contact with the buoy, neither comes away damaged. For captains responsible for boats worth tens of millions of pounds, that detail matters.

The buoys were installed by Seawide Services.

📷Falmouth Harbour old steel Frigate and Caldy buoys - Photo credit Falmouth Harbour

Why the Change Now

Falmouth Harbour says the spend is part of an ongoing programme to modernise infrastructure and respond to increasing demand from larger visiting vessels, which bring substantial additional revenue to the harbour and knock-on benefits to the wider local marine sector and community.

Mark Upton of MGMT Superyacht Agency, who has been sending superyachts to use the new moorings, said: “The introduction of the new mooring buoys in Falmouth has been very well received by the Superyachts we have sent there so far this year. With the switch from steel to the new design buoys there is a far lower chance of any damage to the vessels using them, which means Captains and their crews feel more comfortable using the moorings.”

Mark added: “As always the team at Falmouth Harbour are on hand to support visiting yachts and provide their usual exceptional levels of service for which we and our clients are very grateful.”

📷The large-vessel mooring buoys are designed and built by Plymouth-based specialists AIS Marine and installed by Seawide Services. - Photo credit Falmouth Harbour

A Natural Haven

Miles Carden, CEO of Falmouth Harbour, said: “Falmouth has always been a natural haven for large vessels. This investment builds on that strength, providing modern, high-capacity moorings that meet the expectations of today’s operators while retaining the flexibility and ease of access that sets the Harbour apart.”

The moorings sit within Falmouth’s deep, naturally sheltered waters and are engineered for vessels that want a safe, flexible alternative to berthing alongside. According to the harbour, they’re particularly suited to superyachts and commercial operators looking for an efficient turnaround.

Tim Phillips of AIS Marine said: “We’re pleased to support Falmouth Harbour with this investment in modern mooring infrastructure. Our buoy systems are designed to deliver reliable performance in high-load environments.”

Tim added: “A key advantage is the minimal maintenance required compared to their traditional steel counterparts, and maximal flexibility they offer for port operators and vessel owners alike.”

AIS Ltd, through its Plymouth-based Marine division, manufactures mooring buoys, fendering and navigation aids used in ports, offshore energy projects and commercial marine operations around the world.

Falmouth Harbour bills itself as the UK’s gateway to the Atlantic Ocean, offering deep-water access, minimal tidal restrictions and a town that includes the famous Chain Locker pub, which has been welcoming seafarers for centuries.

More information on Falmouth Harbour’s commercial, leisure and environmental work is available at falmouthharbour.co.uk or by calling 01326 213537.

📷Falmouth Harbour Frigate Buoy and superyacht - Photo credit Falmouth Harbour

📷Falmouth Harbour Caldy Buoy - Photo credit Falmouth Harbour

📷Falmouth Harbour new Caldy and Frigate buoys - Photo credit Falmouth Harbour

📷The new “self-fendering”, low-maintenance Frigate and Caldy Buoys fit the requirements of large commercial vessels and superyachts which visit Falmouth - Photo credit Falmouth Harbour