UPDATE: Boats in St Sampson's exposed to wild weather

Wednesday 30 October 2019

Further damage was caused to the wave wall at St Sampson's Harbour yesterday evening, leaving boats moored on the first pontoon exposed to the rough weather.

The steel piles which securing the remaining part of the wave wall have also been shaken loose by the waves.

Over the course of Tuesday, the new Sarnia Workboat hauled three of the broken wave wall pontoons away, leaving one in place, but this did leave the private moorings open.

Harbours have been urging boat owners need to check their moorings in St Sampson's Harbour ever since the damage first became evident. It was first caused by extreme weather on Monday night, and saw one the protective pontoons sink.

Pictured: The pylons were securing the 'wave wall' pontoons, but they have now been removed, leaving boat moorings exposed. 

A spokesperson for Harbours put it down to a combination of strong easterly winds and very high spring tides. That weather continued through Tuesday night and into this morning, damaging more sections of the wave wall. 

Pictured: The new Sarnia Workboat helped to clear the damaged pontoons throughout Tuesday. 

The 'wave wall', or wave pontoons, is in place to help offer some protection to the St Sampson's Marina by breaking the waves before they get in to the harbour, but they and one of their supporting piles are now broken, and the bad weather is continuing. 

"The recent bad weather has caused damage to the St Sampson’s Harbour wave pontoons and one of the supporting piles on the Southside pontoon wall," a spokesperson for Guernsey Harbours said.

"Guernsey Harbours’ maintenance staff will fully assess the damage to the structure and the piles during the day as tidal conditions allow. St Sampson’s marina berth holders are being advised to check their mooring ropes."

Check your boats in St Sampson’s. The wave wall has sunk and these easterlies are nasty at the moment. Luckily the tide is ebbing now. @gsyharbours @Govgg @BBCGuernsey @islandfm @BailiwickGsy @ITVChannelTV pic.twitter.com/eTWDaiwYC2

— Chad Murray (@capt_murray) October 29, 2019

Mariners were also warned to be careful while doing so because of the weather and the potential for rougher water in the marina. 

"All mariners should comply with the instructions with the accompanying Navigation Warning issued by Guernsey Coastguard for the area," the spokesperson added.

"During periods of bad weather, all mooring holders are strongly recommended to monitor the latest weather and shipping forecasts, and to check their moorings regularly."

Pictured top: The damaged wave wall which is designed to protect the harbour at the Bridge. (inset image by Chad Murray)