'Marinas need the mooring fees rise'

INCREASES in mooring fees will raise about £250,000 in additional income per year which will be used to improve the marinas, Public Services has said.

The new charges will also bring the marinas more into line with those in other ports.

Harbour master Captain Peter Gill (pictured( has defended the increases, which have been branded 'ludicrous' by boat owners.

He said owners of larger vessels should pay more because their craft caused more wear-and-tear to the island's marinas.

From April, PSD will introduce charge bands for different-sized boats. The longer the boat, the higher the band - owners are charged by the square metre.

This change has meant that owners with boats up to 7.99m. in length will see their costs increase by 10% but, at the other end of the scale, vessels of more than 16m. will have to pay 150% more than last year.

Captain Gill said this meant that increases for the majority of local boat owners would be kept down as most have smaller vessels.