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New pontoons will aim to provide improved facilities for visiting boat owners, including new electrical infrastructure, water supply, and safety lighting, at Victoria Marina.
The £300,000 project is part of a wider £20 million investment plan to upgrade Guernsey's marinas over the next decade.
Guernsey Ports Head of Infrastructure Delivery, Jenny Giles, said: “The new pontoons are of similar design to those installed in the QE2 Marina earlier this year, with heavy-duty, galvanised steel frames supported by fibre-reinforced concrete floats.”
While the investment aims to improve facilities for visitors, it could raise concerns about increased fees and charges for boat owners. Guernsey Ports has argued that these increases are necessary to fund the essential infrastructure upgrades and reduce reliance on taxpayer subsidies.
Pictured: The pontoons in the Victoria Marina date back to the 1970s. Guernsey Ports says they have long since reached the end of their design life.
Assistant Harbour Master, Kieran Higgs, said: “These pontoons are a significant upgrade on the current facilities and will provide secure berthing and improved facilities for our visiting boat owners for decades to come.
“Pontoons D & E can accommodate up to 80 leisure vessels and make up around 40% of our total visitor moorings in the Victoria Marina. These are the highest priority visitor pontoons for replacement, as they’re showing the most wear and tear.
“Visiting boat owners provide real benefits to the local economy and to Guernsey Ports’ revenue each spring and summer. Our increases to our Ports fees and charges are being spread across all user groups, including our visiting boat owners, and these funds are being directly invested into upgraded facilities.”
Pictured: The replacement of the pontoons is scheduled through December to minimize disruption to the busy visitor season.
In a Statement, Guernsey Ports said the above RPI increases to current fees and charges for both 2024 and 2025 are helping to generate the funds required for the “much-needed investment in the Ports’ ageing infrastructure”.
It added that it would also “progressively eliminating the need for ongoing States’ subsidy, which will reduce the financial burden on taxpayers”.
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