WEYMOUTH harbour income is picking up with a good start being reported to the season.

Both commercial and private berths have seen an increase with the number of visiting boats and bridge lifts also increasing – according to harbourmaster Jamie Joyce.

Slipway income at the harbour is also up with a big increase in fees for the launching of jet skis – although Covid restrictions are still limiting visits by some other vessels. Marina berth lets are at their highest level for four years.

Mr Joyce told this week’s Dorset Council joint harbours committee that new online systems have helped with launch bookings and for the reporting of faults – and has also led to some unregistered jet skis being stopped from launching because their details did not match up. Six new jet ski berths have been installed in the harbour.

He said the harbour has recently sold three of its vessels, including the pilot-work vessel Melway which will be used in environmental protection work by the Blue Seas Protection group after being refurbished on the Isle of Wight.

Portland Port will supply a pilot vessel, on request, as a replacement when needed, and an order has been placed for a new 7-metre rigid hull inflatable harbour boat for general use.

Mr Joyce said that there was full capacity for visitor berths in the harbour over the May bank holiday weekend and there have been strong visitor numbers in the past two weeks as well.

A four-year hydrographical survey of the harbour has been commissioned to look at the changes in depths. It will compare data with a full survey take in 2016 and will result in a dredging regime should that be needed.

Mr Joyce said that large items and incorrect items left in or by harbour bins had forced harbour staff to sort through the waste in recent weeks before it could be taken away. He said that extra use being made of the bins had also led to a decision to almost double capacity in some area around the harbour – with extra bins being provided for general recycling and glass recycling.

He reported that covid restriction have put paid to a planned visit to Weymouth this month (June) of the Golden Horizon, one of the world’s largest commercial sail-powered cruise ships. Mr Joyce said that under current restrictions it was not possible for the visit to go ahead.