Guernsey Ports begins £300k pontoon replacement at Albert and Victoria Marinas
- Guernsey Ports is investing £300,000 to replace ageing pontoons at Albert and Victoria Marinas over eight weeks
- Work begins with Victoria Marina's north-east corner, followed by Albert Marina's 'U' pontoon
- The pontoons date back to the 1970s and have reached the end of their design life
- The project follows £2.5 million investment over two years, replacing 200 marina berths
- New pontoons will feature modern electrical infrastructure, water supply and safety lighting
Ageing pontoons at Guernsey's Albert and Victoria Marinas are being replaced over the next eight weeks as part of a £300,000 investment programme by Guernsey Ports.
The project begins with upgrades to pontoon systems in the north-east corner of the Victoria Marina, which provides safe berthing for visiting vessels. This will be followed by the replacement of the 'U' pontoon in Albert Marina, which accommodates a small number of local moorings for larger vessels.
Kieran Higgs, Head of Port Operations, said the works form 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," he said. "These pontoons date back to the 1970s and have reached the end of their design life. This will provide secure berthing and modern facilities for boat owners for decades to come."
The projects follow around £2.5 million 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.
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.
Approximately 85 metres of pontoon will be replaced in Victoria Marina. Initial works commenced last week and the full replacement is expected to be completed by early May, in time for the main summer season.
Once this phase is complete, attention will turn to the Albert Marina, where replacement works are scheduled for completion by the end of May.
Higgs said the investment reflects Guernsey Ports' commitment to maintaining high-quality facilities for both local and visiting boat owners. The new pontoon systems will provide new electrical infrastructure, water supply, safety lighting along the walkways and other modern fittings.
He added that full replacement is more cost-effective than continued maintenance due to the advanced age and condition of the current facilities.
Q&A
Q: How much is Guernsey Ports investing in the pontoon replacement project?
A: Guernsey Ports is investing £300,000 in replacing ageing pontoons at Albert and Victoria Marinas.
Q: When will the pontoon replacement work be completed?
A: Victoria Marina work is expected to be completed by early May, with Albert Marina work scheduled for completion by the end of May.
Q: How old are the pontoons being replaced?
A: The pontoons being replaced date back to the 1970s and have reached the end of their design life.
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