Survey of harbour bed gets under way

It is part of investigations to develop proposals for a pool marina.

Guernsey Ports, on behalf of the States’ Trading Supervisory Board, has commissioned the studies following direction from the States Assembly last summer.

The survey vessel ‘66K’ has arrived in Guernsey and over the next few days will examine and record data across the harbour at St Peter Port.

Doug Wright, commercial manager – Ports, said that starting the seabed survey was an important milestone for the programme.

‘This survey is part of a complex set of studies which will help develop proposals for a policy letter later this year,’ he said.

‘This operation of the vessel-based survey is weather and tide dependant and these have been factored into the programme of works.

Meanwhile, the Ports has commenced its engagement with key stakeholders which will inform any current and future demand for additional marina provision.’

Boatowners or operators who have a mooring in the pool area do not have to move their vessel for this survey.

Jenny Giles, project civil engineer for Guernsey Ports, said the bathymetry and sub-bottom profiling surveys were required as the programme needed to accurately record the depths of St Peter Port Harbour and the make-up of silt and rock on the harbour seabed.

‘This data will then influence the marina design and their footprint, which will in turn form recommendations for the policy letter,’ she said.

‘The survey results will also inform some planned maintenance dredging of the harbour later this year.’

Further intrusive seabed surveys and core drilling studies will also be required for the programme and the project team is working through the logistical arrangements with technical experts.

This work is expected to be carried out in late February and March and ahead of the visitor season when the number of vessels moored in the pool generally increases.