Cowes Harbour Commission plans new breakwater

Originally, it was doing this in partnership with the Regional Development Agency (RDA), SEEDA. However, the UK government abolished the RDAs recently and transferred their assets to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). This has meant a change in partnership and approach for CHC and a delay in delivering the breakwater. The HCA has confirmed its ongoing support and funding commitment for the Outer Harbour breakwater as part of its investment in the East Cowes Project. The HCA however, does not have the project management remit of its predecessor SEEDA.

CHC believes that an outer harbour breakwater is vital to the local economy and to the safety and future prosperity of Cowes Harbour. The HCA has asked CHC to take the lead role to procure and manage the harbour infrastructure works as part of the project delivery. The commissioners have agreed that CHC should take on this responsibility.

Cowes is not a natural harbour and is very exposed to weather from the northerly quadrant highlighted by significant gales this season which resulted in the sinking of five yachts in the harbour. The breakwater will protect vessels moored within the harbour, extending the sailing season. It will reduce the risk of damage to waterside businesses and premises, creating an environment where new businesses can be enabled to set up on sites which were previously too exposed. This will bring new employment and investment opportunities into Cowes and the Isle of Wight, enabling an HCA-led marina development capable of accommodating larger yachts and providing the opportunity to attract new events to the island. It will also reduce the risk of ferry connections being affected by adverse berthing conditions and the ‘knock-on’ effect that it has on Island trade and tourism. Finally, it will establish Cowes as a destination for small visiting cruise ships, by providing improved shelter for Trinity Landing.

“CHC will continue to look for methods of funding that would enable us to bring forward completion of the overall harbour infrastructure development including the extension to the Shrape breakwater and Eastern channel dredge, said the CHC. “It is time to deliver. The time for constructing the Cowes breakwater has arrived. The project has all necessary permissions in place to proceed and we are building a strong, professional team to help take this forward. In June 2012, we appointed Atkins, one of the world’s leading engineering and design consultancies, to project manage the procurement of the harbour infrastructure.”

A European tender document has been advertised to enable the project to progress. The tendering stage for the breakwater construction contractor, managed by Atkins, is due to be completed by the end of December. This should lead to construction of the breakwater commencing in the spring of 2013.