New all-tide marina to enhance leisure mooring

GUERNSEY: UK-based Marina Projects has been appointed by Guernsey Ports to support the preparation of a detailed feasibility into the development of a new all-tide access ‘Pool Marina’ scheme in St Peter Port.

The creation of an all-tide marina seeks to maximise the potential of the currently under-utilised pool moorings area and enhance the leisure berthing offering at St Peter Port with the introduction of modern berthing arrangements and improved customer facilities.
Outline proposals include a new marina that is centrally located within St Peter Port. It would have permanent walk ashore access to strengthen the harbour’s immediate connection and proximity to the town centre and attractive waterfront. Proposals also include the introduction of a breakwater structure to improve wave protection within the harbour confines and provide notable secondary benefits to existing operational assets. Other work streams include breakwater studies, dredging assessments, navigation studies and an extensive programme of marine boreholes.
In response to significant market demand for additional pontoon berthing, Pool Marina would be the first all-tide berthing facility in the town, enabling residents and visitors to enjoy unrestricted access to the excellent nearby cruising grounds of Herm and Sark. Likewise, the geographic location of Guernsey provides an advantage for boaters cruising between the UK, Jersey and northern France.
Marina Projects is providing specialist marine advice for the feasibility, concept design and technical design of Pool Marina and will undertake a comprehensive programme of stakeholder engagement and marina financial modelling. Working closely with the Guernsey Ports client team and consulting engineers, and in order to establish the optimum marina solution that will make best use of the waterspace, the concept design will aim to integrate Pool Marina with existing landside uses and marine infrastructure without compromising existing marine leisure and commercial port operations.
The scope of services includes undertaking extensive market assessment of the regional area, including the cruising grounds of the Channel Islands, Solent and northern France, to identify the scale and nature of market demand applicable to Guernsey. The information and conclusions drawn from the study will be used to inform and confirm the market opportunities for berthing and user groups, and guide expectations in terms of support services for local berth holders and visitor facilities.
The concept design for Pool Marina will seek to balance the market research findings, the client’s vision and the constraints and opportunities present at the site. Furthermore, consideration of the existing harbour operations and assets through extensive stakeholder engagement will ensure the development proposals are complementary and provide wider benefits to marine related activity within the harbour.
Doug Wright, ports commercial and estates manager for States of Guernsey, commented: “Marina Projects bring a wealth of marine leisure knowledge and experience to this exciting project. We have a rich and diverse leisure boating community here in Guernsey and our consultants have understood the challenges associated with the site and engaged with local stakeholders to identify clear direction and are assisting us with the strategy to develop the proposals for a new all-tide marina scheme.”
As part of the ongoing viability assessment, Marina Projects will undertake financial modelling of Pool Marina to measure the impact of the new berthing asset on the existing operations in terms of income, overhead costs and capital expenditure. The key assumptions and outcomes will serve to identify the investment case for the marina.
Marina Projects managing director, Mike Ward, said: “We are really pleased to be working with Guernsey Ports to bring forward well-considered proposals for an all-tide marina facility in St Peter Port. The strategic and geographic advantages of the location, and the immediate connection to the fabulous waterfront of St Peter Port, are key strengths that the study will look to leverage. An all-tide facility will change the face of marina berthing in Guernsey. Notwithstanding an array of complex challenges, we have the necessary experience to help our client deliver a scheme that creates significant benefits for the local residents and harbour users.”