More Information

Prospective Members FAQ

How does it work?

The CMMA is not a club, but an association of mooring holders, this means it is only responsible for the licensing and administration of the moorings.

The mooring equipment itself belongs to the mooring holders and it is ultimately their responsibility to supply the assembly, keep it maintained and ensure it is periodically inspected as required.

The moorings.

The moorings are of the individual swing type and are located in the SW corner of Portland Harbour, between Portland Marina and the WWII Mulberrys.

They're pretty well sheltered, especially from the prevailing SW winds, but generally not considered suitable for winter use and it is usual for members to move their vessel onto the hard, or into a marina, for the winter months.

Unfortunately we do not have any hardstanding facility for dinghies ashore currently.  Portland residents are eligible to become members of Portland Boat Club located nearby, otherwise most members use inflatables launched from the publicly accessible Castle/Black Barge or Castletown slipways.

Annual Membership and Licensing Costs

Membership of the CMMA is currently £250 per year, which includes the CMMA subscription, the annual mooring licenses, along with a contribution to a ring fenced pot, for the mandatory biennial riser inspection.  Additionally Portland Harbour Dues would be required for any vessel, but are discounted, if bought via the CMMA.

Membership and mooring positions are allocated on a first come first served basis, and if we are fully subscribed, we operate a waiting list.

Equipment Cost

Currently all of our mooring allocations are populated with mooring assemblies.  With these assemblies being owned by the mooring holders themselves, any sale would be handled and negotiated privately.  Although with the mooring assemblies being of recent deployment (‘25-26) and of high specification, you could expect to pay at least £1000.

Whilst the initial outlay of a self owned mooring can be daunting, the upside is that all of the moorings follow a specification that has been professionally designed and also approved by the PHA.

This makes them very robust, suitable for our local requirements and of a known common configuration.  This means it should be very reliable, have a long life and also retain a good future on sale value, should a member decide to leave and want to sell their mooring equipment.

Future Cost

As described in our rules, members are required to maintain, inspect and document their assemblies; and bear the cost of doing so.  But with our robust assembly requirements and the enforced savings pot towards the biennial riser inspection, we don’t envisage further significant costs unless the riser needs replacing (~£120), the mooring has to be removed, or it reaches the mandatory 10 year lift out inspection/renewal requirement.

Annual membership and licensing is mandatory for use of the mooring.  It's possible that the equipment can become forfeited with extended non-payment of fees and the equipment hasn't been removed as required and requested.

CMMA - Autumn 2026