Escorted by an eclectic mixture of harbour and pleasure craft the pilot boat LK Mitchell steamed out of Falmouth harbour for a final time on Monday after giving nearly 50 years of service to the port.

Whistles and horns sounded as a farewell to this iconic vessel as she steamed out of the harbour, over to St Mawes and then to Pendennis Point, where she momentarily stopped.

With car horns blaring, people waving and her escort craft sounding their whistles, LK Mitchell, under the command of Coxswain Sandy Proctor, increased speed as she headed south bound for Scotland.

Farewell to St Mawes as Arrow and LK Mitchell steam to Pendennis Point. Image: Miles CardenThe family of Captain Laurence Kerr Mitchell, who the boat was named after, paid a final visit to the vessel.

September 2 marked 50 years since 49-year-old Captain Mitchell died, in 1974, whilst trying to board the disabled P&O ferry Eagle in Falmouth Bay during bad weather.

You can read more about him here: Tribute to heroic Falmouth captain who lost his life in P&O ferry tragedy

Captain Laurence Kerr Mitchell. Image: David Barnicoat CollectionThe LK Mitchell was the last tangible link in Falmouth with Trinity House the Pilotage Authority until 1988.

Henry Vincent, of St Mawes, was the first pilot licensed by Trinity House in 1809, when the Board of Trade made all waters inside an imaginary line – drawn from the Dodman to the Black Head – subject to compulsory pilotage.

Farewell to St Mawes as Arrow and LK Mitchell steam to Pendennis Point. Image: Miles CardenSince 1988 Falmouth Harbour assumed responsibility for Pilotage.

Next month the port will welcome the brand new state of the art pilot vessel Atlantic – a £1.6m investment in the port by Falmouth Harbour.

As reported at the start of August, Atlantic has been built by Holyhead Marine Services yard on Anglesey, north Wales.

When in commission Atlantic will join the pilot boat Arrow - a 16.3 metre Halmatic built modern pilot vessel built in 2006 - and she will replace Falmouth’s 46-year-old pilot boat LK Mitchell.

You can read more about her here: Falmouth just weeks away from receiving £1.6 million boat for harbour

‘Atlantic’ will be one of the cleanest, safest and most fuel-efficient pilot boats in the UK, and as one of the few Tier 3 compliant pilot vessels operating in the country she will include features which help Falmouth Harbour meet its sustainability targets.