New pontoons in £300k port upgrade

Victoria Marina is at the centre of the upgrade project

New mooring pontoons are due to be installed at the Victoria Marina as part of a £300,000 investment programme, its operator has said.

Guernsey Ports which manages the Bailiwick's gateways said current infrastructure has been in place for more than 50 years.

Installation is expected to begin in mid-December, the firm added.

It said more than £20m of investment will be needed to address ageing infrastructure across Guernsey's marinas over the next decade.

'End of their design'

The current pontoons date back to their construction in the 1970s and have "reached the end of their design life," Jenny Giles, Guernsey Ports head of infrastructure said.

"The new pontoons are of similar design to those installed in the QE2 Marina earlier this year, with heavy-duty, galvanised steel frames supported by fibre-reinforced concrete floats," she added.

Kieran Higgs, assistant harbour master, said: "These pontoons are a significant upgrade on the current facilities and will provide secure berthing and improved facilities for our visiting boat owners for decades to come."

The project follows upgrades at both the Albert Marina and Fish Quay.

Work will take place at the marina's quietest times, Ports of Guernsey said, to minimise disruption and loss of revenue during visitor season.