First floating jetty for Lake Windermere

Marine Designs Ltd designs and builds heavy duty pontoon systems, many of which are used in the offshore wind renewable sector. The company designed and installed Brockhole Jetty, on the shores of Lake Windermere between Ambleside and Bowness. The jetty was commissioned by the Lake District National Park Authority to provide better access to the Windermere ferries.

The design of the jetty took into account the potential extreme lake level rises and provided for wheelchair access. The unique design also incorporated the use of a strut walkway and a Seaflex mooring system to cope with water level variation and the berthing forces of the larger steamers. The use of a flexible mooring system, instead of piles, has reduced the visual impact of the structure in its picturesque setting.

The project was logistically challenging and involved lifting the heaviest pontoon structures ever into Lake Windermere and a 100’ long steel walkway. The pontoons incorporate raised passenger ramps and bespoke oak fendering for the vessels on the lake, which matches the materials used on the decking of the landside works.

Drystan Jones, managing director of Marine Designs Ltd said, “This has been a logistically demanding project but it has all gone to plan and we are very pleased with the pontoon system and its performance.

“We are delighted to have been able to use a Seaflex system for this project, because it works well with the vessels and reduces the visual impact of the jetty in this stunning location.

Marine Designs Ltd builds a pontoon system known as the Dock Master, which uses pre-cast concrete beams manufactured in Cornwall from pre-mined China clay aggregates. The heavy duty system is capable of providing berthing solutions for vessels up to 20,000 tons.

The pontoons are well suited to workboats such as tugs and ferries, and the company has identified an opportunity in the growing offshore renewable energy market. Last year the company completed a flagship project to build pontoons to be used by offshore wind farm support vessels in Barrow in Furness. The pontoons enable workers to safely board the boats, which transfer them from shore to wind farm. They also aid faster transfer times into port, which is important when there are tight weather windows to gain access to the turbines.