The crossing is often referred to as the Ferry of the Loaf on account of Macduff, Thane of Fife, using a loaf as means of fare over the River Tay from north to south, whilst escaping to England in 1050. The ferry and the hamlet around it, are referred to in early documents and maps variously as South Ferry of Portincraig, East Ferry, and Ferry-Port-on-Craig. The ferry is mentioned in an Act of Parliament of James II in 1474. In 1501, King James IV is recorded as crossing on his way to Arbroath at a cost of 28 shillings which included his horses.

As the 1793 Statistical Account of Scotland notes “This ferry is a custom-house creek, within the precincts of the Customhouse at Dundee. As it is the lowest creek in the river, a King’s boat, with 6 boatmen, under the command of a tide surveyor, is stationed here to board all vessels coming up the river from a foreign port, for the security of the public revenue. It is also the residence appointed for the excise officer of the St. Andrew’s second ride, the whole parish being in that division”.

This portrayed the village as an active port reflecting the advantages for the movement of goods by sea prior to road improvements following the 1790 Fife Turnpike Road Act. Activity included importing coal from the River Forth and lime from Sunderland. Salmon fishing and the development of a mussel industry also provided regular seasonal employment. A ship building industry flourished for periods both prior to and after the construction of the railway harbour in 1851.

Reported to be on the premises of a Mr Lawrence Brown from the year 1800, it being a duty imposed on one of his apprentices to hoist a signal to the Ferry Port men, designating the type of boat that was required.

The harbour was purchased by James Donaldson & Sons (Timber Merchants) from British Transport Docks Board in 1962. This was followed by the closure of Tayport Railway Station with the August 1966 opening of the Tay Road Bridge. The through line connection to Leuchars had closed earlier, with the last passenger train in 1956.  The main business of the harbour had latterly been the import of timber and previously, esparto grass and china clay for Guardbridge Papermill, along with barley for Haig’s Distillery. Bunker coaling had ceased following the demise of the Dundee Trawler Fleet in the early 1950s.

James Donaldson wound down its Tayport business between 1982 and 1990 to concentrate on the development of their Leven facility and ceased importing timber into Tayport in 1983. Tayport Harbour Trust Ltd. took ownership of the redundant industrial facility in 1990 from the timber merchants and has successfully developed it for leisure use as a popular marina. The historic issue of both sand in the entrance channel and the silting of the harbour have been significant concerns since the Railway Harbour was constructed and this issue remains a major financial challenge for the Trust who actively maintain this community asset.