Chairman’s Statement

Dunbar Harbour Trust is committed to ensuring that Dunbar Harbour is operated safely and efficiently, so as to safeguard its users, visitors and the environment, both now and in the future. The Trust is committed, within its powers, to fulfilling all of its duties and responsibilities, so that Dunbar Harbour is accessible and enjoyable for all.

The Trust remains primarily committed to the continuing development of sustainable in-shore fishing, and the further expansion of the Dunbar Fishing Fleet. Dunbar Harbour Trust will continue to work in close co-operation with the RNLI, both locally and at national level, to ensure the return of Dunbar’s All-Weather Lifeboat, John Neville Taylor, to an along-side mooring within Dunbar Harbour, permitting 24/7, all-weather and all- tide search and rescue operation. The Trust is further committed to the repair, maintenance, conservation and preservation of the Cromwell and Victoria harbours, and the advancement of public education concerning their history. The Trust will also provide, or assist in the provision of, facilities in the interests of social welfare, the arts, education generally, recreation and leisure time pursuits.

In addition, the Trust will promote trade and industry and business development, for the benefit of the harbour, its users and the local community.

Stuart G. Turnbull
Chairman - Dunbar Harbour Trust
Chief Executive – Dunbar Harbour Developments CIC

January 2012

Dunbar Harbour Trust

Dunbar Harbour Trust was established by Act of Parliament in 1999, and is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee.

Dunbar Harbour Trust is administered by a Management Board of Directors, all of whom are unsalaried volunteers.

In addition to being the legal Harbour Authority, Dunbar Harbour Trust is a self-financing business, depending like any other commercial concern on cash flow and profits for its successful operation.

The Trust continues to invest all of its profits back into the harbour, in order to provide enhanced facilities for harbour users and visitors, and to provide for the care, maintenance and repair of the harbour fabric and buildings.

The Trust continues to plan ahead to keep pace with the changing needs of our harbour users, visitors and the local community. To do so, the Trust understands that it must remain close to our fishermen, our leisure users and tourists, and to our local residents and businesses. The Trust must continually anticipate, encourage and assess every opportunity to attract inward investment, in either facilities or in diversification.

Dunbar Harbour Trust will also ensure that the harbour continues to operate safely and efficiently, and within the terms of the Port Marine Safety Code, in order to provide our customers with good value for money services, whilst maximising revenue streams.

Dunbar Harbour Trust remains committed to supporting the search and rescue capability of the RNLI Lifeboat Station, and to ensuring the continued development of sustainable inshore fishing, leisure and recreational use of the harbour, tourism and sustainability.

Harbour Development Plan

A satisfactory operating performance in 2011 help the Trust to set a sustainable financial return for the year, growth within the inshore fishing fleet, combined with increased commercial operations within the leisure and recreational sectors, generated additional income during the year. 

This provides an excellent platform for the Trust to move forward in 2012 / 2013.

Forecasts for the future show potentially significant revenue and employment opportunities resulting from the establishment of energy generating off-shore wind farms, and the Trust is already engaged in advanced discussions and co-operation with the energy companies concerned, local and national government, as well as other potential partners and support service providers.

In 2008 Dunbar Harbour Trust produced a paper “Development of Dunbar Harbour”, which made the case for essential improvement works to the harbour.

Comprehensive engineering studies and wave modelling were subsequently completed. The Trust, supported by East Lothian Council’s Business Development Department, has recently agreed a business loan, re-payable at a commercial rate of interest, which has allowed the development plan to proceed to the conceptual design phase, which will then lead to an application for full planning permission for the construction of an off-shore breakwater just outside the existing harbour entrance.

Construction of the off-shore breakwater, the dredging of the Victoria Harbour basin and the completion of other major engineering works will provide a 24/7, all-weather, all-tide port of refuge for the Outer Forth Limits and the North Sea, and will allow the return of the RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat, John Neville Taylor, to an along-side mooring within the safety of the harbour.

This will significantly reduce response times, and will provide an enhanced search and rescue capability for the RNLI from Dunbar Harbour.

Successful completion of the Harbour Development Plan will open up Dunbar Harbour to an expanded inshore commercial fishing fleet, with the facilities and infrastructure in place to support our fishermen and their businesses, an expansion of tourism opportunities, development of cultural and heritage amenities, as well as securing the long term future of Dunbar Harbour.

Summary of Dunbar Harbour Trust’s Primary Aims and Objectives

• The safe management, maintenance and regulation of Dunbar Harbour.
• The continuing development and expansion of sustainable in-shore fishing.
• The return of our RNLI all-weather Lifeboat to an alongside mooring within the harbour.
• The promotion of the harbour for sailing, and other leisure pursuits.
• To continually improve our environmental performance.
• To invest in new harbour facilities where a need is identified, and as funding allows.

• To attract new businesses, and ensure the continuing satisfaction of our existing business customers and leisure users.

• To maximise quality and value for money in all our services through improvement, and by making its operations cost-effective and efficient while maintaining high standards.
• To maintain existing buildings, plant and equipment and other harbour facilities in a safe and serviceable order.

• To operate safely within the terms of the Port Marine Safety Code and the Health and Safety at Work Act, with particular regard to ensuring compliance with any new legislative requirements within required timescales.

• To expand and diversify our sources of income in order to support and strengthen core harbouractivities.

The Environment

Dunbar Harbour Trust is committed to discharge its responsibilities under all relevant environmental legislation through conservation of the environment and maintaining pollution prevention and nature conservation measures. The aims of the Trust are:

• To plan all aspects of its operations and activities in order to minimise their impact on the environment.

• To comply with all legal and legislative requirements and pursue a programme of progressive improvement in these standards.

• To control the use of non-renewable materials and where possible continually seek alternatives.

• To reduce the consumption of resources and reduce all forms of waste.

• To reduce the levels of controlled and uncontrolled emissions and discharges into the environment.

Climate Change

Dunbar Harbour Trust is committed to identifying the impact of climate change to the harbour by ensuring that all new plans, policies and projects take full account of the possible longer-term impact of climate change.

Harbour Infrastructure Plan

Dunbar Harbour Trust has a Capital Programme of planned new investment which will take several years to deliver. The Trust is conscious of its customers’ needs and will strive to provide the infrastructure necessary to allow the various businesses and other commercial enterprises using the harbour to trade successfully. 2012/2013 and ahead will prove an exciting and challenging time, with many projects on the drawing board which will require to be prioritised and delivered in an affordable manner

These projects include:

• The construction of the new breakwater within the outer harbour limits in order to provide shelter within the harbour basin, and which will provide 24/7, all-weather, all-tide safe passage for vessels.

• The dredging of the harbour entrance and harbour basin.

• The protection of the north harbour wall to prevent over-topping.

• The provision of an along-side pontoon mooring berth, with covered access, for the RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat.

• The creation of a showcase cultural and recreational development on Lamer Island.

• The construction of a “Welcome Ashore” accommodation facility for the crews of visiting vessels.

• The provision of serviced pontoon moorings and quayside furniture.

• The re-development of the maintenance bay to a standard that is “fit for purpose”.

• The backdrop for local and national artists to showcase their work in the community.

• The maintenance and improvement of existing buildings and harbour fabric. 
   
• The redesign of the existing landscaping to create an attractive setting and better access for the disabled. 

• The transformation of Dunbar Harbour into a vibrant destination, and the focal point of our community.

Dunbar Harbour Developments CIC - Investment Plan

Dunbar Harbour Trust will continue to review all opportunities for the development of harbour facilities, and also the potential for stimulating trade within the harbour in order to maximise capacity.

In order to manage the future development of the harbour, the Trust has created a Community Investment Company (CIC). “Dunbar Harbour Developments CIC” will manage the existing and future commercial operations of the harbour, as well as managing the capital projects proposed within the harbour development plan. All net profits from Dunbar Harbour Developments must be re-invested in local community projects or given as charitable donations.

The Trusts investment strategy of maintaining its present markets, whilst providing expansion opportunities, will be implemented by Dunbar Harbour Developments.

During 2012/2013 and beyond, any inward investment opportunities will be maximised, but with consideration to their impact on the current core activities of our customers within the commercial fishing and leisure sectors, and the level of increased return achievable.

Recent examples of investment by the Trust include the multi-million pound redevelopment of McArthur’s Stores, which provides workshop and storage facilities for the local commercial fishermen, as well as office accommodation for the Trust and a community meeting space.

2010 saw the installation of a powered davit on the quayside, as well as the installation of new safety railings around the north harbour wall.

In addition, the Harbour Masters office has been fully refurbished, and new information boards and signage have been installed around the harbour.

Extensive engineering based site investigations have also been conducted on the fabric of the northern sea wall. The resultant repairs recommended by our consultants have been estimated at £200,000, and the Trust is currently seeking grant funding for the completion of these essential works.

Dunbar Harbour Trust / Dunbar Harbour Developments CIC – January 2012