Good news for Burry Port harbour
The dredged channel inside Burry Port harbour to ease access to the open sea for marina-berthed vessels is holding up well.
Problems occurred last winter when onshore winds drove sand laden waves into the harbour resulting in sand banks forming inside.
This made it difficult for vessels to get in or out of the harbour on anything other than high tide marks.
Hundreds of tonnes of sand were shifted and removed from the harbour over several weeks of dredging to remove the sand bank obstacle.
Harbour Master Rory Dickinson said the end of the access channel to the sea outside the harbour had a mind of its own but that was to be expected because it is open foreshore and had always been designed by winds and tides.
“The dredged inner channel has behaved extremely well. We will be performing depth dips over the next few weeks within the harbour to check the persistent but varying issue of sedimentation.
“This will show us if there has been any changes since the dredging operation in June.
“We will be applying for a dredging licence for next year shortly so it will be in place should we need it.
“The licence from the Environment Agency which is required to remove sand can take several months to come through so it is as well to have it place even if it is not needed.
“The sedimentation issue is not something that can be calculated or allowed for because it is something that can change with one tide if wind and sea condition conspire against us.”
County executive board member for regeneration and leisure service Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “Burry Port harbour is high but necessary maintenance to keep open the only working harbour in Carmarthenshire.”
Problems occurred last winter when onshore winds drove sand laden waves into the harbour resulting in sand banks forming inside.
This made it difficult for vessels to get in or out of the harbour on anything other than high tide marks.
Hundreds of tonnes of sand were shifted and removed from the harbour over several weeks of dredging to remove the sand bank obstacle.
Harbour Master Rory Dickinson said the end of the access channel to the sea outside the harbour had a mind of its own but that was to be expected because it is open foreshore and had always been designed by winds and tides.
“The dredged inner channel has behaved extremely well. We will be performing depth dips over the next few weeks within the harbour to check the persistent but varying issue of sedimentation.
“This will show us if there has been any changes since the dredging operation in June.
“We will be applying for a dredging licence for next year shortly so it will be in place should we need it.
“The licence from the Environment Agency which is required to remove sand can take several months to come through so it is as well to have it place even if it is not needed.
“The sedimentation issue is not something that can be calculated or allowed for because it is something that can change with one tide if wind and sea condition conspire against us.”
County executive board member for regeneration and leisure service Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “Burry Port harbour is high but necessary maintenance to keep open the only working harbour in Carmarthenshire.”
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