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Harbour Office Opening Times
Summer
- Monday – Friday
- 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday
- 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Winter
- Monday – Friday
- 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday
- 9:00 am – 10:00 am
The Harbour Master, or staff on duty, will be present on the tide during peak season (beginning of June to end of August). For the remainder of the year (September to end of May), a VHF listening watch will be maintained.
Emergencies
For emergencies in or around the harbour and coast, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. At sea, call Humber Coastguard, VHF Ch.16.
Entry into the Port
Charts
AC108; SC5614; Imray Y9, C28; OS132
Position of leading buoy
Latitude 52°59’.700N, Longitude 000°50.194E. (West Cardinal) to Yellow special marker keeping it close to port. Then make course to entrance (Green No 1 conical buoy and Red No 2 can boy) which will be visible ahead (east).Entry Information
Prior notice of entry required if possible. Shipping – at least 24 hours notice required. Contact Harbour Master.Access at Harbour entrance (No. 1 buoy)
Max draft 3m at high water springs. Most vessel movements two hours before high water to two hours after high water – dependent on draft. There is considerably more scope for local vessels which are familiar with the entrance. The channel is continuously dredged from the entrance to the Lifeboat House. Contact Harbour Master for latest access information.Tidal Window Outer Harbour
Commercial and wind farm vessels have an access of up to 3 hours either side of HW. There is more scope available on neap tides. Vessels must inform Wells Harbour on channel 12 before movement. All skippers must obtain a Captains Handbook from the Harbour Office.
Whether approaching Wells Harbour from the Blakeney Overfall, the South Race, the Woolpack or the Burnham Flats you will have no difficulty in laying and holding a course for the Wells leading buoy. The water, though quite shallow in parts, presents few hazards and the tides are not over powerful. A useful homing in guide is the long plantation of fir trees (Holkham Meals). Wells lies immediately at the eastern end of this plantation.
Previous to or on arrival at the leading buoy it is advisable to call the Harbour Master on VHF Channel 12 (Wells Harbour). He will then advise you of the entry time. If you are attempting entry at night or are unsure the Harbour launch is often available to escort visitors into the Harbour and up to the quayside.
Draft
On spring tides, Wells Harbour may be entered by craft drawing up to 3m (10ft) at high water. On neap tides vessels drawing up to 1.75m (6ft) can enter at high water or two hours either side of high water. As a guide vessels with a draft of up to 1.5m (5ft) can look at entry three hours either side of high water up to the lifeboat house on all states of tide. The channel is continually dredged from the entrance to the lifeboat house. For more up to date access times contact the Harbour Master.
Entry
The entrance channel across the bar and into the Harbour is subject to change from time to time, however, the buoyage system is relatively stable.
From the Leading Buoy (West Cardinal) head towards the special yellow marker, (Flash Yellow 3s), taking it to Port. From there continue ahead (easterly) towards the large green No 1 conical buoy and No 2 can buoy – flashing red. It is advisable to make good course to come between them until the smaller buoys of the channel become visible.
From the starboard buoy No 9 (the ‘Knock’) the channel bends away towards the south east into quieter waters. The wide sweep to the east just past the lifeboat house must be made with the red buoys quite close on the Port hand side as the channel is quite narrow. On passing green buoy named the ‘Pool’, sweep round to the south west and follow the buoys along the edge of the seawall to the town quay on your starboard side.
