Glasson Dock: Survival fight over sea gate costs - port authority

Lancaster Port Commission has previously said 200 jobs were at risk due to the sea gate problem

A port authority said it was "fighting for survival" after a broken harbour sea gate has left its own pilot boats trapped.

Lancaster Port Commission operates Glasson Dock near Lancaster.

It is responsible for maintaining shipping access to a network of docks and quays for UK and foreign vessels.

Paying for replacement boats to guide ships to the remaining accessible parts of the dock was "unsustainable", it said.

The authority said it was then passing these costs on to the Environment Agency (EA).

The EA has been contacted by the BBC for comment.

The two organisations have been in disagreement over responsibility for the broken sea gate at Glasson Dock.

This was believed to be impacting on neighbouring Glasson Marina, where smaller boats were stranded.

Lancaster Port Commission said it was now working with Lancaster Labour MP Cat Smith, a Green Party city councillor, Sally Maddocks, and government department DEFRA to find solutions.

Lancaster Port Commission's Elsabe White has reportedly told commercial port users they will be unaffected by the sea gate problem

A recent update from the commission read: "Our work boats are trapped and we can only fulfil our port duties by hiring third-party contractors. For a port of modest means, this is unsustainable and we are facing a fight for survival."

The commission is a self-governing "trust port" and is responsible for maintaining access for large ships and smaller boats to Glasson Dock and along the River Lune, stretching from Lancaster to the sea south of Morecambe Bay.

It also owns New Quay in Lancaster and runs Walney lighthouse.

Glasson Dock provides port and wharf facilities for British and overseas cargo ships including from the Isle of Man, Ireland, France and Spain.

In February, the port commission warned 200 jobs were at risk with the sea gate problem.

In recent days, Isle of Man-based Manx Radio has reported the commission's chief executive, Elsabe White, has met commercial port users including Ramsay-based shipping and logistics company Mezeron, to assure them they will be unaffected by the sea gate problem.

According to the radio station, Ms White said invoices received for third party ship piloting services are being passed to the EA for payment.