Great Yarmouth Outer Harbour
Great Yarmouth outer harbour tackles swell
By Stephen Pullinger
Saturday, May 14, 2011
11:42 AM
Work will soon be under way on modifications to Great Yarmouth’s outer harbour to address the swell problem which has dogged the port during its first year of operation.
The 200m wide entrance to the harbour is to be reduced by 50m by extending the breakwater arms, which will be densified and heightened with extra rock.
At the same time, work will continue on replacing hard rubber cone fenders designed for bigger ships with Yokohama airbag fenders.
Critics have blamed EastPort for the ongoing swell problem – which has prompted criticism from a ship’s captain and led to one vessel leaving port early – because it made design changes to the original plan.
However, EastPort chief executive Eddie Freeman said the main issue was that smaller vessels were using the harbour than had been originally envisaged.
The modifications would accommodate the sort of vessels used in offshore windfarm construction which was a key market the port was targeting.
He said: “Despite the deepest economic recession since the Great Depression, we are delighted to announce this further investment in the port infrastructure of Yarmouth to ensure our locational advantage and deep water facilities meet the needs of both existing and new customers.
“Both of these projects will run for the rest of the year with the breakwater works commencing in the summer and expected to take three to four months to complete.”
He said it had been felt appropriate to await the departure of their tenant’s container quay cranes before announcing their next steps in respect of their refocused business developments.
Mr Freeman insisted they were not closing out any type of business by narrowing the harbour entrance –simulations involving the pilots had been very positive and confirmed that even the largest ro-ro ferries could be accommodated.
Since the decision was taken to refocus its business, EastPort has announced the successful award of two major contracts for the offshore wind sector.
Eliza O’Toole, deputy chairman of EastPort’s parent company International Port Holdings said: “The ongoing support of our customers as we further invest in our facilities is a ringing endorsement of both their and our commitment to the port.”
stephen.pullinger@archant.co.uk
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7 comments
There a few more ships using the outer harbour for the windfarm work but I would like to know how many new local jobs have been gained? It isn't good enough to just keep blaming the recession when other ports are getting the kind of business we need for those precious jobs. Eastport offers no commitment to the long suffering residents of the host town. Mr. Freeman told us several weeks ago an urgent inspection of Gorleston pier would be made with the purpose of repairing the surface – nothing. Ms. O'Toole at the Norwich Scrutiny meeting apologised for their bad public relations and said things would change. Was it just coincidence that these two statements were for the scrutiny meeting because we still await the proof of the pudding?
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gorleston.boy
Thursday, May 19, 2011
More misleading statements from eastport. Eddie Freeman talks of one ship that had swell problems when in fact there were several, both small and large. The 17,000 tonne Draco for example, a ship of the size the outer harbour was planned to cater for left to sit in the Roads for two days because of the swell. Less spin and more true facts would engender a little more confidence in the outer harbour. At last Eastport has had to admit that there were design faults when the proposed spending beach was omitted to give more quay space. The draco experience proving it isn't just small ships that had problems as Mr. Freeeman indicates. The fact is that if the original design had been followed the Yokohama fenders would never have been needed. It seems by rejecting the design which we paid for made the finished project unfit for purpose.
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gorleston.boy
Thursday, May 19, 2011
More misleading statements from eastport. Eddie Freeman talks of one ship that had swell problems when in fact there were several, both small and large. The 17,000 tonne Draco for example, a ship of the size the outer harbour was planned to cater for left to sit in the Roads for two days because of the swell. Less spin and more true facts would engender a little more confidence in the outer harbour. At last Eastport has had to admit that there were design faults when the proposed spending beach was omitted to give more quay space. The draco experience proving it isn't just small ships that had problems as Mr. Freeeman indicates. The fact is that if the original design had been followed the Yokohama fenders would never have been needed. It seems by rejecting the design which we paid for made the finished project unfit for purpose. There a few more ships using the outer harbour for the windfarm work but I would like to know how many new local jobs have been gained? It isn't good enough to just keep blaming the recession when other ports are getting the kind of business we need for those precious jobs. Eastport offers no commitment to the long suffering residents of the host town. Mr. Freeman told us several weeks ago an urgent inspection of Gorleston pier would be made with the purpose of repairing the surface – nothing. Ms. O'Toole at the Norwich Scrutiny meeting apologised for their bad public relations and said things would change. Was it just coincidence that these two statements were for the scrutiny meeting because we still await the proof of the pudding?
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gorleston.boy
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Hi Have posted message four times but it never appears gorleston boy
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gorleston.boy
Thursday, May 19, 2011
I believe that more than one ship had problems and left the outer harbour. How about your committment to the long suffering residents Ms. O'Toole? Strangely at the scrutiuny meeting in Norwich you were very appologetic for your lack of PR regarding your hosts and had promised to do better, also Mr. Freeman told us several weeks ago about his concern for attention Gorleston Pier and his immediate attention - "Methinks strangers speak with forked tongues" Isn't your blaming the recession for all your failings getting a little tired considering the progress of other ports? Finally it would be nice to know your progress in providing NEW jobs for our many umemployed in the borough which I understood was the main reason for your being given all the millions in grants.
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gorleston.boy
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Congratulations to John Coopers excellent results in the NCC election. He was standing on this issue and it is about time for East Port to acknowledge their obvious mistake in the design, hence the reconstruction of the harbour entrance. I echo John remarks over Gorleston Pier, it is their responsibility and one would not want to endanger the public.
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ingo wagenknecht
Monday, May 16, 2011
Three years of complaining have at last produced a response from the owners of our port. Time and time again we said that the £1.5 million pound design that Ratepayers paid for was not followed hence the swell problem. I would have hoped that Eastport would have been magnanimous enough to acknowledge we were correct. Whilst work is to be started to correct the swell problem, could Eastport repair the Gorleston Pier that our defunct Port Authority gave them in exchange for one useless share. And now the containers are history there is no need for Eastport to hang on to our road, unless they want to keep it and include it in a possible sale.
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John L Cooper
Saturday, May 14, 2011