Undersea survey of Guernsey harbour for new marina

An undersea depth and profiling survey of the St Peter Port Harbour in Guernsey has begun. 

The work is being carried out as part of an investigation to develop a proposal for a new marina in the Pool area of the harbour, which would offer more permanent berths for local boats and pontoons for visiting vessels. 

The survey vessel 66K has arrived in Guernsey and will examine and record data across the Harbour at St Peter Port this week, bosses at Guernsey Harbours say. 

Data collected during the survey will influence the possible design of a marina, which has yet to be approved.

An undersea survey is part of a proposal for a new marina at St Peter Port Harbour in Guernsey

“Commencing this seabed survey is a really important milestone for this programme,” says Doug Wright, commercial manager – ports, at Guernsey Harbours. “This survey is part of a complex set of studies that will help develop proposals for a Policy Letter later this year. This operation of the vessel-based survey is weather and tide dependant and these have been factored into the programme of works. Meanwhile, the Ports has commenced its engagement with key stakeholders which will inform any current and future demand for additional marina provision.”

Guernsey Harbours says it commissioned the studies on behalf of the States’ Trading Supervisory Board, following direction from the States Assembly last summer.

“The bathymetry and sub-bottom profiling surveys are required as the programme needs to accurately record the depths of St Peter Port Harbour and the make-up of silt and rock on the harbour seabed,” says project civil engineer for Guernsey Ports, Jenny Giles. “This data will then influence the marina design and their footprint which will in turn form recommendations for the Policy Letter. The survey results will also inform some planned maintenance dredging of the harbour later this year.”

Survey boat 66K. Image courtesy of Cheetah Marine

Boatowners or operators who have a mooring in the Pool area will not have to move their vessels for the survey being conducted this week.

According to Guernsey Harbours, further intrusive seabed surveys and core drilling studies are also required for the programme. This work is expected to be carried out in late February and March and ahead of the visitor season when the number of vessels moored in the Pool generally increases.