Moorings in The Humber

The Humber is a large tidal estuary formed at Trent Falls, where the tidal Ouse and Trent meet, and it runs for about 38 miles to the North Sea at Spurn Head. It divides the East Riding of Yorkshire from northern Lincolnshire, is crossed by the Humber Bridge, and carries heavy commercial traffic to the ports of Hull, Grimsby and Immingham.

Associated British Ports, through Humber Estuary Services, is the competent harbour authority for the estuary, about 145 square miles in all, and runs the vessel traffic service through which it monitors and regulates navigation. The Humber has fast-flowing currents, shifting sands and shallow water, so moorings in the Humber are mostly in docks behind locks rather than out in the tideway.

Hull Marina, in the city centre, has about 270 berths in Humber Dock and Railway Dock, behind a lock that can be used about three hours either side of high water. On the south bank, the Humber Cruising Association runs Meridian Quay Marina in the northern part of No. 2 Fish Dock at Grimsby, with a travel hoist, hard standing and a fuel berth.

The estuary is also the way into a large inland network. The Trent leads south towards Gainsborough and Nottingham, the Ouse leads to Goole, Selby and, through the locks at Naburn, York, and the River Hull runs north from the city towards Beverley. On the south shore, the tide lock at South Ferriby, usable about three hours either side of high water, opens onto the River Ancholme, an Environment Agency navigation with moorings at Ferriby and Brigg.