Engineers to inspect RoRo ramp

Sunday 10 March 2024

An inspection of the youngest RoRo ramp in St Peter Port Harbour is taking place.

The older of the two ramps has already been assessed, with that condition survey showing the 650-tonne steel and concrete structure built in the late 1980s had deteriorated less than anticipated.

Now the linkspan built in the mid 1990s, the most eastern of the two, is being checked.

“The inspection of the No.1 Linkspan showed us it was in a better condition than we initially anticipated given its age," said Guernsey Ports’ project manager Joe Armstrong.

“The No.2 Linkspan is of a different design to No.1 and is the preferred berth of ship operators, both due to its location east of the New Jetty and the fact that its larger buoyancy tank can support ramp operations without the need for pendant connections.”

 Mr Armstrong added: “The survey from specialist marine civil engineers and our own dive team will enable a detailed assessment of its condition.

“This will inform a detailed options appraisal of the future options for the two RoRo Linkspans and how to best focus our resources to extend their operational life.”

The inspection will be led by the same marine civil engineers, Robert West Consulting Ltd, that looked at the  other ramp in October.

The above water assessment is taking place this week, followed by an underwater survey by Guernsey Ports’ dive team in April.

Both linkspans are in full operational use and are subject to regular inspection as part of an ongoing maintenance programme.