Over the past month, progress has continued towards finalizing the ‘Harbor Infrastructure Funding Agreement’ between Cowes Harbor Commission, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and their developers Camper & Nicholsons and Westcourt Real Estate.
This agreement is essential to provide the funding for the Shrape Breakwater extension and Eastern Channel dredge, the Cowes Harbor Commission said in its latest announcement.
OHP construction and dredge licences
OHP program managers Marina Projects has successfully obtained the new MMO (Marine Management Organisation) construction licence that includes the revised and optimized position for the Shrape extension, which will be moved 30m south and aligned east-west.
Additionally, Marina Projects have now submitted an application to vary the existing MMO dredging consent licence, to take account of the optimized OHP design layout, including all the proposed CHC ancillary dredging to improve navigation safety and increase the depth of the mooring basin inside the Cowes Breakwater.
Shrape soils investigation
As a result of the revised position of the Shrape extension, additional ground information is required to establish the nature of the seabed down to depths of 25 meters.
Investigative boreholes and survey work will most likely be carried out in late October or early November, exact dates to be confirmed.
A Local Notice to Mariners will be issued in advance with full navigation and safety information. The soils information will then be used to inform the detailed design of the Shrape extension, prior to tender and construction contract award.