The present Newhaven Port User Group was formed at the end of 2009 with the aim of constructing a forum for the exchange of information between the Port Authority and the maritime users of the port. Consultation being the key word in ensuring the Port executes it's duties and enabling the port users to have a pathway to express their views and ideas.

The first meeting was held on the 19th February 2010 and was very well attended. The Port Manager and Harbour Master opened the meeting and this was followed by a presention given by the Port's Consultants, Royal Haskoning, on the Port Masterplan. An interactive workshop followed this enabling the group to express their wishes for the future port. The next meeting is scheduled for 30th June 2010.

A Port Users sub-group was formed in April 2010 and called the West Quay Users (Fishing) Group, to enable dialogue between the local fishermen and the Port Authority. The group also includes a representitive of the Charterboat fishermen operating out of Newhaven Marina. The first meeting was held on 28th April 2010.  

From a recommendation made following an external audit of the Port carried out in April 2010 by Marico Marine into the Port's compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code, the following Terms of Reference have been produced for the Port Users Group. Click here for ToR's.

As part of the Newhaven Port Masterplan, the second round of Stakeholder Workshops were held at the Enterprise Centre, Denton Island to reveal the developments made since the process began in September 2009. The first round of consultations were held in November 2009 and February 2010.
The Port Consultants Royal Haskoning and DMH Stallard presented to the employees of Newhaven Port & Properties on Tuesday 29th June, followed by the wider stakeholders and Port Users Groups on Wednesday 30th June 2010.

The West Quay Users (Fishing) Group held a meeting at Newhaven Lifeboat Station on 21st April 2011. Chaired by the Harbour Master Captain Dave Collins-Williams, the meeting saw a good turn-out from the Newhaven fleet and was considered a resounding success. Seafish were represented by David Guy, who gave updates on the Southern Water Long Sea Outfall, Balanced Seas Project and the Rampion Windfarm Site. Rob Clark from the newly formed Sussex IFCA also delivered a presentation to the meeting on their aims and objectives to represent the industry. The next meeting is scheduled for the end of October 2011.

All members of the Port User Group were invited to attend the Port Masterplan Launch Presentation held at Newhaven Fort on the evening of 23rd June 2011. A large number did attend the event, along with other stakeholders including NPP Employees.

A large percentage of the Port Users Group attended the Navigational Risk Assessment Review Stakeholder Day held on 23rd August 2011. The day was organised by the Harbour Master and Marico Marine in order to consult with all the relevant port user sectors and ensure all the hazards and associated risks within the port had been considered. The final report from this review was received by the Harbour Master in September with a number of recommendations to improve the navigational safety of the port. A computer based system called HAZMAN has been installed on the Harbour Master's computer to ensure all the risks are kept regularly reviewed and updated.

The West Quay Users (Fishing) Group held their third meeting at Newhaven Lifeboat Station on 28th October 2011. Chaired by the Harbour Master Captain Dave Collins-Williams, the numbers were slightly down on the previous meeting held in April, but there was a fair representation and the meeting was worthwhile. Next meeting will be at the end of April 2012.

The Port Users Group held a meeting at Woodies Bar & Grill, Peacehaven Golf Club on Tuesday 24th January 2012. At the meeting, the group heard the Port Manager Captain Francois Jean and the Harbour Master Captain Dave Collins-Williams explaining the Port Masterplan development and final public launch of the revised plan on this very day. A powerpoint presentation was delivered to the group by Alan Banks from TB Partners, NPP's Strategic Project Management Team Leader, followed by a useful question and answer session. The group now numbers 32 member organisations comprising of 52 individuals representing those organisations, all whom share the same common denominator in that they all work, live or play within the Newhaven Harbour Limits. A total of 34 persons attended the event and enjoyed a buffet lunch after the presentation. Now the Masterplan is complete, the next meeting will be able to focus on the main purpose of the group as per the terms of reference. The next meeting is scheduled for July 2012. The Port Masterplan is available to download in pdf format from this website. Go to "Port Masterplan" on the home page.

The Port Employees attended a similar style event at the same location on Tuesday 17th January 2012, so that as important port stakeholders, they were the first to see the Final Port Masterplan before it was released to the general public.

The 6 monthly meeting of the West Quay Users (Fishing) Group was held on Thursday 10th May 2012 at Newhaven Lifeboat Station.
The group is a sub-group of the main Port User Group and meets to discuss issues important to the Newhaven Fishermen and allows the Port Authority to bring the members up to date with Port news and the latest Safety matters.
The meeting was well attended and the Chairman, Harbour Master Dave Collins-Williams, had also invited representitives of the Sussex Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency to update the members on the latest relevant hot topics.
Thanks go to Newhaven RNLI for once again hosting the event and showing that Newhaven's Maritime community are working together for the benefit of all harbour users.