New Harbour Master for Falmouth as HM Duncan Paul retires

Falmouth's new Harbour Master and Marine Team from left to right Ifor Pedley Deputy HM, Miles Featherstone Falmouth Harbour Master, Tim Jones Assistant Harbour Master and Tom Redgrave Marine Manager © Falmouth Harbour

Falmouth Harbour has formally appointed Miles Featherstone as new Harbour Master, stepping up to the role as existing Harbour Master Duncan Paul has decided to bring forward his retirement.

Miles joined Falmouth Harbour in June as "Harbour Master Designate" and hit the ground running, with a series of major events including the prestigious Richard Mille Cup, Falmouth's Classics' and International Shanty Festival and National Armed Forces Day already under his belt.

As Harbour Master Miles is responsible for overseeing Falmouth's marine safety management system, a role he combines with that of Manager for Falmouth Pilot Services.

Miles Featherstone can look forward to leading the Harbour Master team in the organisation of the world's Tall Ships Festival and Race from August 15-18 and the Oyster Festival from October 12 - 15.

Commercially, the harbour will welcome almost 50 cruise ship visits in 2023 and Miles will now start preparations for the arrival of the Harbour's new £1.6 million Pilot Boat in May 2024.

"It is very exciting to see our HM team flourish and deliver an incredible sequence of events through 2023," says Falmouth Harbour CEO, Miles Carden. "The safety of our harbour users, visitors and community underpins everything we do and Miles Featherstone is now a key part of an incredible team.

"I would also like to thank my whole team in Falmouth Harbour and in particular Ifor Pedley as Deputy Harbour Master together with my Marine Team, Tim Jones and Tom Redgrave who have stepped up over the last 3 months in Duncan's absence. Ifor will now step back to Deputy to support Miles. I wish Duncan all the very best for his well-earned retirement."

Miles Featherstone joined Falmouth Harbour from the Port of London on the Thames, where he rose from marine trainee to Deputy Harbour Master in just ten years. He is no stranger to major events with the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race, the Thames New Year's Eve Fireworks, The Great River Race and the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Start, amongst others, falling under his management through the Port of London Authority.

Miles Featherstone says, "I have joined Falmouth Harbour at an incredibly busy time with some exciting and challenging marine events in my first month here and many more ahead. It is a privilege to be appointed Harbour Master in such a vibrant place, and I am very excited about taking on the role."

Captain Duncan Paul was appointed Harbour Master in June 2020 having previously served in assistant and deputy harbour master roles and taking over the helm of the Harbour from Mark Sansom, who retired in 2021.

Duncan had planned to retire at the beginning of 2024 but has decided that the time has come to go early as he considers that the Harbour is now in good hands with the new team.

Captain Paul joined Falmouth Harbour in 2010 as Assistant Harbour Master and has performed a number of marine safety roles for the organisation, including Pilot Services General Manager and Deputy Harbour Master.

Duncan served as master on a variety of vessels trading worldwide, spent periods as operations manager for the Ministry of Defence Salvage and Moorings Organisation and was security manager for an international shipping company.

To find out more about the work of Falmouth Harbour, Falmouth Haven and Falmouth Pilot Services, along with details of events through the 2023 season, visit www.falmouthharbour.co.uk