Chichester Harbour Conservancy has completed its Itchenor pontoon development, extending the previous pontoon by 7 metres further out from shore, with 100 metres added to improve vessel walk-ashore berthing and improve access to the harbour ferry.
Chichester Harbour is one of the UK’s most popular leisure harbours, with an estimated 25,000 people enjoying its waters for racing, cruising and fishing each year. The harbour is home to over 12,000 residential vessels, representing about 25% of all the recreational craft in the Solent. Chichester Harbour Conservancy is the Statutory Harbour Authority responsible for the safe and efficient use of the waterway, alongside its stewardship of the harbour as a Natural Landscape.
Marine consultancy and survey company ABPmer supported the Conservancy with a Navigational Risk Assessment (NRA), conducted jointly with the Chichester Harbour team. This included identifying hazards during the construction and operational phases, speaking with stakeholders and developing a set of risk assessments identifying risk controls (mitigation).
ABPmer also conducted a survey to understand the difference in tidal flow between the original and extended pontoon. The survey identified a maximum increase of 0.2 knots between the two locations, deemed to not constitute a safety risk to non-powered craft.
The pontoon development was conceived with the aim of greatly improving the walk-ashore berthing for yachts, powerboats and fishing vessels. This was achieved by extending the pontoon footprint in association with shoreside amenity improvements.
The project provides significant safety benefits by reducing the need for boat owners to use small tenders to reach their craft, thereby increasing convenience and ease of access to shoreside welfare facilities.
The improvements to the Harbour Office include a regime of work to reduce its carbon footprint and measures to increase resilience to flooding.
The project was subject to licensing, including the granting of a Marine Licence for the seaward works, provided by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The marine works were completed in Autumn 2024 with the project’s finishing touches being added for the upcoming 2025 boating season.
Monty Smedley, ABPmer Project Manager, said:
“We are delighted to have supported the Itchenor pontoon development. Our NRA, informed by the tidal flow survey, was a vital step to ensure risks associated with the extension are minimised as low as reasonably practicable, in line with the Port Marine Safety Code.”
Chichester Harbour Conservancy Chief Executive Matt Briers said:
“Through this project, the Conservancy has increase convenience and safety for harbours boating users and enable the infrastructure for increased electric charging to facilitate sustainable boating.”
Chichester Harbour Master Jo Cox said:
“We are very pleased that the jetty develop project, which has added a further 100 metre arm, has provided increased ‘touch and go’ berthing, walk-ashore visitor berthing, and improved foot-ferry access.”
