New pontoon will help city realise marine potential

A NEW 140 metre floating pontoon and a cruise ship quay in the heart of Londonderry will be key drivers in allowing the city and its hinterland to realise its marine tourism potential.

That’s according to the Loughs Agency, which has been working on the new ‘breakwater’ pontoon - a reinforced concrete floating structure which is capable of absorbing berthing forces from large vessels over the past number of weeks.

“We are very pleased with the finished result,” said Derick Anderson the Loughs Agency’s Chief Executive. “It further adds to the necklace of marine tourism infrastructure along the River Foyle”.

The pontoon also includes toilet and shower facilities for users as well as power and water supply for visiting boats.

One notable aspect of the facility is the care taken in the planning and design to accommodate disabled boat users (appropriate gangway gradient, toilet and shower, plus a hoist to facilitate boat access for disabled sailors).

The upgrade to Meadowbank Quay, just downstream of the city centre, provides a 190m long berhing for large naval boats, medium size cruise ships and the like. Modifications have been made to the quayside railings, fenders and mooring bollards to permit the safe berthing of vessels and to ease discharge of passengers.

The works on the Foyle have been funded by the Loughs Agency’s Marine Tourism and Angling Development programme - part-financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund) through the Interreg IVA Cross-border Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

The main contractor in the job was McLaughlin and Harvey and the pontoon contractor was Inland and Coastal Marina Services. The project was managed by Central Procurement Directorate (Civil Engineering Branch).

The project partner for the pontoon and quay is the Port of Londonderry. Harbour master, Bill McCann, is enthused by the prospect of having additional infrastructure in the river for recreational boats, cruise ships and other marine tourist traffic.

The new pontoon has certainly eased things for Mr McCann as regards the eagerly anticipated arrival of the Clipper fleet and the accompanying flotilla of spectators.

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