Guernsey Ports bosses prepare to assess harbour kit

The kit was to be assessed both above water and below water

Specialist engineers and divers are preparing to survey kit which loads and unloads vehicles and freight from Guernsey's ferries.

Dubbed "linkspans", there are two such pieces of kit managed by Guernsey Ports, the operator said.

One piece of kit was assessed in October 2022, with a survey of the second due to start this week.

Guernsey Ports said the work would be phased to "minimise disruption to operations".

It would "inform future infrastructure planning", the operator added.

"Better condition"

The operator said the first assessment had revealed the kit to be in "better condition than anticipated", which was credited to "regular proactive maintenance".

It said the same marine civil engineers, Robert West Consulting Ltd, will carry out the second inspection.

An above water assessment would take place this week, it added, followed by an underwater survey by Guernsey Ports' dive team in April 2024.

Joe Armstrong, Guernsey Ports' project manager, said both pieces of kit were in "full operational use" and subject to regular inspection.

He said the second linkspan was the "preferred berth of ship operators" due to its location east of the New Jetty, and ease of use.

He said the surveys would help them decide "how best to focus resources to extend their operational life".

He added that surveys would be timed to "minimise disruption to operations".