Guernsey Ports’ Sarnia workboat and Trinity House’s buoy-handling vessel THV Galatea will be removing and replacing the Reffee Buoy, a South Cardinal Buoy which marks the southern limits of a group of rocks to the north east of the QE2 marina.
The Reffee Buoy is one of three major cardinal buoys maintained by Guernsey Ports in local waters, alongside Lower Heads and Fourquies.
The buoys are replaced on station as part of a rolling maintenance programme, with a fourth buoy kept ashore in preparation for the next deployment.
‘Maintaining these navigational aids is a year-round responsibility for Guernsey Ports as the local lighthouse authority for the island,’ said harbour master James Way.
‘A significant amount of work takes place behind the scenes before a buoy ever reaches the water. Our teams carry out the refurbishment, preparation and ongoing maintenance of this infrastructure.
The specialist capabilities on board the Galatea, including its heavy-lift deck crane and dynamic positioning system, enable us to safely complete the offshore exchange.’
The buoy being brought ashore will now be inspected, grit blasted, repainted and reconfigured with the appropriate top marks to become the Lower Heads buoy next year.
Each buoy is typically removed from service every three years to allow for a full inspection and refurbishment of the buoy structure and the heavy-duty mooring chains that secure it to the seabed. Due to their size and weight, specialist lifting equipment is needed to carry out the exchange at sea.
As the local lighthouse authority, Guernsey Ports maintains around 60 aids to navigation in local waters, including buoys, beacons and harbour traffic signals, which undergo regular inspection and refurbishment to ensure they continue to operate safely and reliably.
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