The £300,000 project is part of Guernsey Ports’ ongoing investment in marina infrastructure and has begun with upgrades to the pontoons in the north-east corner of Victoria Marina, which provides safe berthing for visiting vessels.
The U pontoon in Albert marina, which accommodates a small number of local moorings for larger vessels, will then be replaced.
Kieran Higgs, head of port operations, said the works formed part of a rolling programme of pontoon replacement, designed to modernise facilities for boat owners and address ageing infrastructure.
‘These are the highest priority pontoons for replacement this spring, as they’re showing the most wear and tear.
‘These pontoons date back to the 1970s and have reached the end of their design life,’ he said.
‘This will provide secure berthing and modern facilities for boat owners for decades to come.’
The projects follow around £2.5m.-worth of investment in marina infrastructure across the last two years, which has involved replacing around 200 marina berths across the local and visitor marinas.
Guernsey Ports is working with pontoon specialists Walcon Marine on the installation of the new pontoons, which feature heavy-duty galvanised steel frames supported by concrete-encased polystyrene flotation tanks.
Local firm Guernsey Metals is undertaking the associated steelworks, including replacing the wall guides, the vertical steel structures that support and stabilise the pontoon systems while allowing them to rise and fall with the tide.
About 85 metres of pontoon will be replaced in Victoria Marina.
Initial works began last week and the full replacement is expected to be completed by early May, in time for the main summer season.
Once complete, work will begin on the Albert Marina, where replacement works are scheduled for completion by the end of May.
The new pontoon systems will provide new electrical infrastructure, water supply, safety lighting along the walkways and other modern fittings.
Mr Higgs said that full replacement would prove more cost-effective than continued maintenance due to the advanced age and condition of the current facilities.
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