Storm damage has been recorded across the island’s harbours, marinas and network of navigational aids, both on the island and offshore, which Guernsey Ports is responsible for.
Acting harbour master James Way said that a structured programme of repairs was being developed as conditions allowed.
‘Our immediate priority has been to restore infrastructure and services that are critical to the safe operation of the island’s harbours and marinas, and to ensure continuity for essential passenger and freight services that rely on this lifeline infrastructure,’ he said.
‘The full range and scale of repairs required across our estate is extensive.
‘It includes damage to pontoon infrastructure across several marinas, damage to essential mains services and cabling across the harbour estate, and storm damage at exposed coastal sites such as Platte Fougere, St Martin’s Point and Bec du Nez.
‘Contingency measures are in place to ensure continued safe navigation while permanent repairs are planned and delivered.’
Navigational lights at Platte Fougere and St Martin’s Point lighthouse are operating as normal, though Platte Fougere is running off a reduced solar array due to damage to some of the panels.
The sub-main cable to St Martin’s Point lighthouse is still connected and can be used to supply power to the site.
Navigational aid Bec du Nez was swept away and a navigation warning is being broadcast by Guernsey Coastguard every four hours as part of the Maritime Safety Information broadcast for Bec du Nez.
Damage has also been sustained to the scaffold sheeting at the Slaughterhouse, which happened during one of the subsequent storms.
Mr Way said that the repair work has had to be absorbed into an already significant refurbishment and investment schedule across the island’s ports and navigation aids.
‘It is a great credit to our operational and technical teams that the impacts from such a prolonged period of severe weather have not resulted in greater disruption to harbour operations,’ he said.
‘They have shown exceptional professionalism in managing a high volume of urgent, skilled repairs, alongside ongoing preventative maintenance and the continued delivery of time-critical infrastructure projects, including the current reconstruction of the commercial X Berth.’
The workload is being prioritised carefully and delivered through a combination of in-house expertise and, where necessary, supplemented by external contractors, whose availability has also been affected by the storm’s island-wide impact.