Teignmouth Harbour Commission officially named and blessed its new pilot boat at a ceremony last Thursday (November 21).

Storm Siren 2 replaces the Syd Hook, which has been decommissioned after many years of service.

The new pilot vessel was named by Jill Barczok and Sandra Shelston, daughters of former Teignmouth pilot Syd Hook.

Syd was well-known in the town. He had worked as a fisherman and boat builder before spending 25 years as a pilot in the Teign Estuary. As pilot her worked on board the original Storm Siren, a 41 ft Watson ex lifeboat that had been based at Moelfre on Anglesey in Wales before being decommissioned.

Storm Siren 2 is also a former lifeboat served in Filey as Keepfit Association. The Mersey Class vessel operated from her North Yorkshire base for 20 years before being retired to the Royal National Lifeboat Instiute (RNLI) relief fleet in 2021.

‘The purchase and bringing online of Storm Siren 2 is a clear commitment by the Commissioners in our duty as both a statutory and competent Harbour Authority,’ said Chair of Teignmouth Harbour Commissioners Jo Sparks. ‘Storm Siren 2 is undergoing a vigorous shakedown with her crew and is due into service in early December,’ she added.

Pilot vessels help larger vessels navigate the narrow estuary channels as they enter and exit the harbour and assist with manoeuvring within the harbour.

Teignmouth has operated as a working port for over 300 years and sees over 700 shipping movements a year. The average deadweight vessel coming through the narrow estuary channel weights 3000 metric tonnes and is 90 metres long. The Associated British Port (ABP) dock can accommodate up to four vessels at a time.

As well as a pilot boat, the port has a tug, the Teign C, which helps vessels with limited manoeuvrability. The Teign C also operates as a plough dredger to maintain the shipping channel to the port.