Welcome to the Lady Essex Website

Running out of Paglesham Boatyard, Essex Marina, Wallasea Island and Burnham-on-Crouch Town Quay as well as other locations on the rivers Crouch and Roach, Essex Marine Services Limited trading as ladyessex.com offer the following services:

Seal, Bird and Wildlife Trips

Our trips offer you the chance to get up really close to nature as we explore the remote and deserted creeks and inlets of the Crouch and Roach estuaries. This area is simply one of the best places and the least well known to view our fantastic estuary wildlife. We consistently have great views of probably the biggest selection of birds of prey anywhere in Essex! We have regular sightings of Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Merlin and even Short-eared Owls. Waders seen regularly include Avocet, Curlew, Black Tailed Godwit, Grey and Golden Plover, Lapwing, Redshank, Greenshank, Knot, Dunlin, and Oystercatcher among others. Wildfowl include: Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Mallard and Shelduck. An RSPB guide may be available on some our trips.  See our Seals and Wildlife Trips page.

Yacht and Boat deliveries

Experienced qualified skippers available for deliveries of well found vessels by sea, also assisted passages and towage.

Our fleet

The Lady Essex III is a custom built starfish 10. She was originally built as a prototype for the Royal Navy and as such was built from fire retardant fibreglass to the most exacting standards. She is an exceptionally strong and seaworthy craft. With her Ford Mermaid diesel engine she is somewhat faster than her predecessor and is capable of 10 knots. She is 33 feet 10 inches long and was built in 1981 by Bounty boats in Brundall Norfolk. Though previously certificated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency as a Class V & VI passenger ship for 40 passengers plus crew we have now ceased operating as such and run only as a Code of Practice Cat 3 which allows us to carry 12 passengers plus crew up to 20 miles from safe haven day or night in any weather.

Jacqueline Ann - Lady Essex IV The sister ship of Lady Essex III but with a brand new 220hp engine for 2012, she to can carry a maximum of 12 passengers and can reach speeds in excess of 18 knots though we normally cruise at a much more sedate pace.

Lady Essex V Is a diesel powered Sea Rover 18 of a similar looking design to a RIB but built with heavy duty solid tubes instead of an air filled cushion. These boats are extremely safe and stable and provide a superb platform from which to watch the seals. You have an all round view and you sit almost at the same level the seals are swimming making for an absolutely incredible wildlife encounter.

The Lady Essex III

Disclaimer
We cannot be held responsible in the event that a trip is cancelled due to bad weather or other circumstances beyond our control. We will whenever possible attempt to inform our pre booked passengers of any enforced changes and will of course validate their tickets for an alternative sailing. We cannot be held responsible for enforced changes affecting the ferry service.