Due to an operational requirement on Friday, A&P Falmouth was required to dock the RFA Argus at County Wharf – one of just two deep water berths in the port.
As the other deep water berth is currently occupied by the RFA Cardigan Bay, this meant the cancellation of the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon, forfeiting a visit to the town by a 200-strong crew.
The only other available berth, at Queens Wharf, does not have sufficient depth of water to accommodate large modern ships like the RFA Argus and the HMS Dragon.
Mike Reynolds, Port Operations Director at A&P Falmouth, said: “Yet again, this underlines the importance of having adequate deep water berths to meet the requirements of not only the Navy, but the commercial work that we undertake at A&P.”
Ambitious proposals for the future of the port, which centre around Falmouth Docks, were revealed earlier this year and have since been formally endorsed by Cornwall Council’s planning policy advisory panel and cabinet.
The Masterplan includes modernising ship repair facilities and upgrading wharves at the docks. One of the main issues highlighted by the study is the need to dredge the channel into Falmouth Docks, to safeguard the existing port functions as well as developing businesses requiring use of the port by larger vessels.
During public consultation earlier this year, 94% supported the strategic aim of retaining a deep water working port and 77.9% agreed that the proposals for the docks meet the objectives set out in the Masterplan.
Mr Reynolds continued: "Falmouth is Cornwall’s largest working port and its only right that its future should be at the forefront of the county’s future marine economy.
“The port of Falmouth is vitally important to the whole Cornish economy and ensuring the port has a sustainable future is a very important issue for the county. A&P Falmouth continues to be committed to operating in the highly skilled ship repair and maritime sector and developing its growing reputation as a leader in the marine renewable energy sector."
Falmouth is the home port of both the RFA Argus and RFA Cardigan Bay, with all the maintenance work being carried out in the port as part of the Cluster Support Programme. If work on the ships is needed when they are not in Falmouth, it is managed by the support team based at A&P.
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