Pontoon damaged by winds in Alderney

The States of Alderney said that the wind had caused a structural breach on the joining bracket of the outer section of the pontoon.

‘Harbour staff were able to isolate the flooded section from the shore side, but retrieval was not possible due to strong winds and heavy sea conditions,’ a spokeswoman said.

‘At present the two end sections remain anchored to the outer pontoon pile, with the damaged section now fully submerged.’

The harbour team is planning to retrieve the section for repairs, once the weather settles.

The new passenger landing section of the pontoon installed at the beginning of May was unaffected, having been lifted out of the water on 26 May for structural improvements following concerns about its stability.

The States said that it would be reinstated over the weekend to provide access ashore for foot passengers.

However, use by small dinghies and tenders would be limited due to the reduced capacity.

Harbourmaster Adam Rose said that the incident was an unfortunate consequence of the inclement weather conditions.

‘The positive news is that harbour staff were able to disconnect the damaged sections before the entire facility became unusable,’ he said.

‘My thanks to them for their decisive actions in challenging conditions.’

The full extent of the damage will be assessed once the damaged section has been lifted from the water.

A local harbour user, who wished to remain anonymous, said that this was not the first time that the pontoon had taken on water.

‘It sinks every year, and when it’s windy it bangs on the pylons and moves around a lot, so much so that people who have mobility issues, including members of my family, can’t go on it.’

He called the situation a ‘shambles’, and said that it had started to take a toll on his mental and financial wellbeing.

‘Nothing is maintained in the harbour, and there are no safety facilities. Boats get damaged all the time. Something needs to be done before something serious happens to somebody.’