Maritime Safety Week highlights Newhaven Port’s everyday commitment to safety

From the safe arrival of commercial vessels to emergency planning and working alongside the emergency services, safety is at the heart of everything we do at Newhaven Port.

As we support Maritime Safety Week 2026 (6–10 July), we’re proud to highlight the work our teams carry out every day to help protect people, vessels, the environment and the wider maritime community.

This year’s Maritime Safety Week theme, “Every day, everyone: Making maritime safety routine,” reflects the reality that a strong safety culture is built through consistent actions, continuous learning and close collaboration. It is not about a single initiative, but the everyday commitment shown by everyone working across the maritime sector.

Supporting safe navigation

Newhaven Port welcomes a wide variety of commercial and leisure traffic throughout the year, including the vital DFDS ferry service between Newhaven and Dieppe.

During suitable weather conditions, our experienced Pilot Boat crew undertake proactive patrols to help facilitate the safe arrival and departure of the ferry and other commercial vessels. Their local knowledge, close communication with Port Control and constant awareness of changing conditions all contribute to the safe movement of vessels through the harbour.

Whether guiding commercial shipping or assisting harbour operations, these activities form an important part of our daily commitment to maritime safety.

Promoting safety across the harbour

Safety is a shared responsibility.

Our Port Control team regularly engages with commercial operators, fishermen, contractors and recreational harbour users to promote safe working practices and encourage awareness of port operations.

These routine visits help strengthen relationships, share important safety information and ensure everyone using the harbour understands how to operate safely within a busy commercial port environment.

Preparing for every situation

Effective emergency response begins long before an incident occurs.

Throughout the year, Newhaven Port regularly tests its emergency plans through practical exercises designed to ensure our teams remain prepared and ready to respond.

These include bi-annual oil spill response exercises, security drills and other emergency planning activities that allow staff and partner organisations to practise procedures, identify opportunities for improvement and maintain a high level of operational readiness.

By exercising our plans regularly, we can continually improve our response capability while helping to protect both the marine environment and the people who work within the Port.

Working together with emergency responders

Maritime safety relies on strong partnerships.

Newhaven Port works closely with Category 1 emergency responders, including the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART). Exercises are already planned with HART IN 2026 to further our shared situational awareness, strengthen communications and enhance joint learning.

These collaborative exercises allow Port staff and emergency services to better understand each other’s roles and responsibilities, ensuring that, should an incident occur, everyone can respond safely, efficiently and effectively.

Safety every day

Much of the work that keeps a port operating safely happens behind the scenes.

From proactive patrols and emergency planning to environmental protection and collaborative training, our teams are continually working to strengthen safety across Newhaven Port.

Maritime Safety Week provides an opportunity to recognise these everyday activities, celebrate the professionalism of those involved and reinforce our commitment to continuous improvement.

Because maritime safety isn’t just something we think about for one week each year – it’s part of everything we do, every day.