Padstow habour (Port Code:GBPAD) is a small commercial port which is situated 1.5 miles from the sea within the estuary of the River Camel. The seaward limits of the port are bounded by a line joining Stepper Point, Gulland Rock, Newland, and Pentire Point.
The harbour is capable of handling cargo vessels up to 2000 gross tons but only accommodates bulk cargoes such as sand, roadstone etc. Pilotage is compulsory for all cargo vessels over 30 metres and those vessels over 20 metres with a draft in excess of 3.5 metres. The pilot boards three cables east of Stepper Point, or in adverse weather as near to the fairway buoy off Trebetherick Point as possible.
During 2009, the harbour handled around 120,000 tonnes of sand dredged from the estuary and used mainly for agricultural purposes. Padstow has a thriving fleet of fishing vessels, with regular landings of fish, crab and lobsters. There is also a growing shellfish farming industry within the estuary producing mussels, cockles, oysters and scallops.
The fishing vessels and leisure craft (we had approximately 3500 visiting yacht nights last year) are now the main users of the harbour. The inner harbour is serviced by a tidal gate, which is open approximately two hours either side of high water. A minimum of three metres of water is maintained in the inner harbour at all times.