More than 100 abandoned boats cleared from harbour

Harbour authorities have spent years on the clean-up operation

A harbour has been cleared of more than 100 abandoned and sunken boats after a long-running campaign.

Some of the vessels in Langstone Harbour, Hampshire, were inhabited by rough sleepers while others were pollution risks, the harbour authority said.

It said it had worked with Portsmouth City Council to remove about 120 boats since 2022.

The last two years of the purge cost more than £60,000, according to the harbour's annual report.

Deputy harbour-master Rob Dunford gained "notoriety across the country for the approach and scale of removals", the report added.

It said there had been a pause on licensing new tidal mooring sites while the clearance was taking place.

Harbour-master Billy Johnson said some boat owners were caught out by running costs

Harbour-master Billy Johnson said only a handful of end-of-life vessels remained on moorings or Eastney foreshore.

He said: "It's quite mucky work. You meet some very unsavoury characters.

"Some owners are caught out by running costs.

"You or I could buy a cheap boat today for a few pounds that could cost thousands to maintain."

He said most of the boats ended up in landfill due to a lack of recycling options.

The harbour, between Portsmouth and Hayling Island, is one of the "most important intertidal areas in Britain" for wading birds, according to Natural England.

It relies on a single sand and gravel dredger - AI Avocet, operated by the Kendall Group - for much of its income.

In 2024/25, which was a record year for aggregates landed by the dredger, the harbour declared a £7,500 operating surplus, the annual report showed.

However, the figure included a £222,000 subsidy from Havant and Portsmouth councils as well as a £162,000 government grant to boost commercial fishing.

Mr Johnson said the harbour would rely on annual council contributions of about £250,000 over the next five years, despite being self-funding from 2015 to 2023.

He said: "The harbour is unusual in having no assets to raise income.

"We have been working to develop our marine services - we hope to bring in up to £100,000 a year."

Major costs during the year included rebuilding Hayling slipway, renewing pontoon piles and the purchase of a quayside crane.