Rye is still a small seaport. Its harbour is a mile from the sea on the River Rother with moorings within the river system of the town. The River Rother is joined by the rivers Tillingham and Brede at Rock Channel. Use is restricted to high water periods (about 5 hours) depending on the size of the vessels.

The channel in the meandering river is well marked but the mudflats can be a nuisance to inattentive helmsmen. At low tide all vessels ground. Tidal levels vary throughout the year as can be seen by the photographs comparing very high tidal floods and low tides.

Maintenance of the harbour is the responsibility of the Environment Agency with a Harbour Masters Office at Rye Harbour, to the east of the river. The duties of the Environment Agency include navigation, water quality, flood defence, water resources, fishing, safety and emergency, conservation and recreation.

Today the harbour is used by a variety of vessels. The Rye Fishing fleet, of around 20 vessels of some 9 metres in length, is moored at the Fish Market. Up to 30 other fishing vessels also use the harbour mooring near to the Harbour Master’s Office.

Very high tide - 18 September 1997

Low tide - 1 August 1998

Pleasure craft, yachts and cruisers, berth at Rock Channel and the Strand Quay. A slipway is also provided at Rye Harbour for trailer launching. Small coasters, up to 72 metres in length, use the Outer Harbour facilities. Commercial shipping, carrying general cargo and aggregates, berth at Alsfords Quay.