St. Helier Harbour project now completed

by Marina Projects on 10 Jun 2015 Marina Projects Limited, the UK based marina consultancy business, has been leading the development of a project that has delivered much needed improvement to visitors’ berths and holding pontoons in the busy St. Helier Harbour, Jersey.

More than 20,000 yachtsman visit St. Helier each year and this development will offer a significant enhancement of facilities for all harbour users.

The Jersey Harbour berths four and five are used extensively by visiting yachts, resident boats waiting for tidal access into marinas, and as a landing point for cruise ship passengers. Berthing facilities were also required for a number of key stakeholders, including the RNLI. Extensive consultation with the RNLI was undertaken to ensure their operational needs were fully accommodated.

Following a detailed feasibility study undertaken by Marina Projects in 2012, options for development were identified. This project also releases the south-west corner of St. Helier Marina for potential future expansion.

A number of key challenges have had to be addressed for the successful delivery of the project. The extreme tidal range, which at MHWS is 9.6 metres, increasing to over 12 metres at Highest Astronomic Tide, had a major impact throughout the project on design and layout, as well as construction methodology and working arrangements.

The nature of the works required the selection of specialist contractors, with experience in marina and harbour environments and operations. Ground conditions were also difficult, and a significant degree of value engineering was required due to the high cost associated with mobilising specialist equipment required for rock-socketing large, 24m long, steel piles into the granite seabed.

Major issues with the structure that retains the water within the impounded St. Helier Marina were also identified and these engineering issues will be addressed as part of future ongoing works.

Construction of this project with new and improved berthing has now been successfully completed. An old link-span bridge within St. Helier Marina has now been replaced by a 52m long pedestrian bridge to improve access. The works have been necessarily undertaken during winter months, with an absolute deadline for completion prior to the annual Jersey Boat Show which took place early May 2015.

The scope of work undertaken by Marina Projects has included a detailed consultation process, engaging with all key stakeholders and harbour users. As part of the internal consultation and approvals process Marina Projects provided comprehensive business case analysis to support the application to Ports of Jersey Executive Team and ultimately to secure Ministerial approval. Marina Projects has also led the consenting process; securing both Planning Permission and FEPA Licenses which, in due course, required the various conditions of the licenses to be discharged. Other work streams have included project management, procurement and contract administration throughout the construction phase.

Local contractors Geomarine Limited were appointed to undertake the major works programme, with sub-contractor Fugro Seacore undertaking the piling work. Walcon Marine Limited has been appointed as the pontoon provider, with Maricer providing the marina utility pedestals.

More background
A total budget of £3 million has been allocated to the project. Monies have been allocated from the Ports of Jersey trading fund and not from any direct government funding. Work started in late September 2014 and the project was completed toward the end of April 2015, prior to the annual Jersey Boat Show.

This project demonstrates the long-standing relationship between Marina Projects and the Ports of Jersey/Jersey Marinas, which dates back to 2009. Contract works undertaken by Marina Projects have included assessing the potential for development in St. Helier Harbour and the development of a marine leisure master plan. The redevelopment La Collette Yacht Basin, a project completed in early 2012, and the current project works, are both elements of that master plan.