Harbour News
Following the relaxation of lockdown restrictions our Marina and its facilities has re-opened to visitors. Showers and toilets are open with extra cleaning measures and sanitising facilities around the port in place to help mitigate Covid 19 risks. We pass on our thanks to all our visitors and harbour users who are adapting to these changing times by following guidelines on social distancing, hand-washing and the wearing of face coverings in enclosed spaces.
Harbour Improvements
Work to refurbish/replace the decking boards on the Marina is almost complete. This work commenced before lockdown and it is good to finally see the end in sight. Installed in 2009 in the Inner Harbour, the marina has proved to be a highly successful facility for the harbour authority, its local users and visitors to the town. The harbour remains a vibrant focal point in Wick – for business and leisure use.
Concreting in the area beside the redundant slipway winch house on Commercial Quay is also complete. The retaining wall which ran alongside has been removed, resulting in a vast expanse of additional quayside space now available as laydown areas and a greater sweep for cargo traffic / cranes etc using the Commercial Quay. This contract was carried out by GMR Henderson.
A work kiosk has also been installed pending the installation of an electronic barrier.
Fishing
July saw various consigned landings from vessels . As lockdown restrictions have been lifted, fishing activity is slowly beginning to get back to normal. 2 new commercial vessels have recently arrived to the port – the Saltire and Emulous. We wish both their owners well at the fishing.
Royal Navy visit
July saw 2 port calls during the month from a small fleet of Royal Navy Archer Class P2000s – fast inshore patrol boats. Essentially a scaled down version of the Navy’s larger ships, the P2000s are among the smallest in the Royal Navy fleet. Attached to the University Naval Training Units, the vessels usually host students over the summer but were unable to due to the coronavirus pandemic. This meant the crews of HMS Archer, HMS Example, HMS Explorer and HMS Trumpeter instead spent two weeks focusing on their own training. The vessels are now alongside at Leith Docks Edinburgh. Each P2000 weighs 54 tonnes and has a five-man crew on board. For more information on the Royal Navy in Scotland see Twitter @RNinScotland.
Crew Transfer Vessels
Seacat Weatherly arrived in port last week to complement the existing fleet of SSE Beatrice vessels working from the harbour. Seacat Mischief left 3 August 2020.
Cargo
End July beginning August has seen 3 shipments of towhead structures for Subsea 7 safely discharged from the vessels SMN Explorer and Scot Venture. Skillfully manoeuvred under the watchful eye of Ian Cormack Deputy Harbourmaster and Pilot, the vessels berthed at North River Pier. The towheads were discharged before making their way up Scalesburn and out to the Subsea 7 Wester Site. Although a familiar sight in Wick , it is still an amazing operation when you see the scale of the towheads , the crane involved and the lorries pulling the structures up the hill and around corners. Final shipment due today 5 August 2020. Some images below courtesy of local photographers Douglas Cowie & Alan McGee Images.
Lastly a photo at sunset of the harbour….. Thanks to all photo contributors. If anyone wishes to share photos of the harbour these can be shared via our Facebook page or by e-mail to office@wickharbour.co.uk
It has now been a couple of weeks since the Marina re-opened to visitors. Marina showers and toilets are also open with extra cleaning measures and sanitising facilities around the port in place to help mitigate Covid 19 risks. We pass on our thanks to all our visitors and harbour users who are adapting to these changing times by following guidelines on social distancing, hand-washing and the wearing of face coverings in enclosed spaces.
The latest Subsea 7 towhead cargo is expected in port this weekend 1/2 August 2020.
Scottish Government restrictions on travel are expected to be lifted on Friday 3 July 2020. Our marina will re-open to visitors on this date subject to Scottish Government advice and the usual physical distancing measures.
Marina showers and toilets will remain closed until 15 July 2020 at the earliest . Advice and guidance will be reviewed at that time. We are committed to moving through the Scottish Government`s phased Routemap in a planned and measured way, keeping our community, customers and staff safe.
Revised Guidance from Sail Scotland 3 July 2020
We would encourage all Leisure Users and Private Cruising Vessels intending to visit Wick Marina to read over the following very useful guidance from Sail Scotland which can be found at
https://www.sailscotland.co.uk/media/3121/sail-scotland-safe-sailing-guidelines-v3-3rd-july-2020.pdf
Apply the 3 Cs :
Be Considerate – mindful of the potential impact you could have on the RNLI and other emergency services. Consider our local area and whether your visit risks adversely impacting our community.
Be Conservative – check your vessel, your equipment, the forecast, plan your route and KNOW YOUR LIMITS.
Be Consistent – follow existing safety protocols.
Please call ahead to Harbour Office on 01955 602030 to check on berth availability. We encourage the use of contactless or cashless payments.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
Since the inception of the new management Board of Wick Harbour Authority (WHA) in 2005 its purpose is to manage, maintain and develop the harbour in the best interests of the local community. As custodians of the Harbour of Wick on behalf of the community its current vision is “to create a modern port business with a diverse portfolio of activities that is commercially sustainable in the long term and to create 500 plus quality jobs by 2030”.
In order to increase growth WHA recognised a High Water Protection Gate (HWPG) in the outer entrance would be the most cost-effective option to stop the surge in both the Inner and Outer Harbours and provide safe moorings for all users of the harbour. This project will require the development of a robust and detailed business plan that can be presented to both public and private funders to ensure that funding for the project can be secured.
WHA have produced a draft business plan and it now requires to be developed further, such that it will address the needs of both public and private funders to enable WHA to secure the necessary funding for the HWPG.
ABOUT THE SUPPLIER’S SELECTION PROCESS
The ITT will be scored on the following: Project Execution Methodology (including examples of previously successful similar marine/harbour projects), Resource Capability for those who will undertake the scope of work, Programme and Price.
Interested parties may obtain a full ITT description from office@wickharbour.co.uk
Deadlines :
Response to Invitation to Tender : 22 June 2020 4pm
Tender close date : 24 July 2020 4pm
Contract award date : 7 August 2020
Contract start date : 10 August 2020
Port Information Notice 16 June 2020 regarding construction works
PIN 1-2020 (003).
COVID 19 – UPDATE
An announcement is expected Thursday 28 May 2020 from the Scottish Government regarding unrestricted outdoors exercise and non-contact outdoor activities in the local area .
Transport Scotland have provided the following update :
“The plan in Scotland is for marine leisure activities to resume in Phase 1, which is expected to start on Thursday 28 May 2020. The decision was taken by Ministers fairly late in the day to include water sports in Phase 1 of the Routemap.
Active Scotland will be producing updated outdoor exercise and recreation guidance detailing what activities are permissible. They will also be working, through Sport Scotland, with the governing bodies involved, to assess that their guidance for participants is adhering to all necessary government guidance. In terms of facilities, the focus is on OUTDOOR activity only, so no INDOOR facility access is anticipated.
Active Scotland envisage this covering, from a sporting perspective :
Canoeing
Rowing – single & pairs and Coastal
Sailing/Boating
Surfing
Open Water Swimming
The governing bodies of these sports have been working together, in discussion with HM Coastguard to develop guidance on the return to activity. No indoor access to facilities will be permitted.”
Provided the go ahead is given by the Scottish Government tomorrow Thursday 28 May 2020 Wick Harbour Authority is pleased to announce leisure vessel owners will be permitted to attend and launch their vessels should they so wish.
We must emphasise that STRICT SOCIAL DISTANCING rules are observed at all times and we rely on the goodwill and common sense of vessel owners/crew regarding this . In addition harbour staff will be monitoring this.
Further information on vessel launching will follow in due course once the situation becomes clearer.
We have been following the Government’s advice in respect of Coronavirus and have measures in place to limit risks to port users, our staff, emergency services and the public. As the country moves towards the easing of certain provisions of the lockdown there will be an understandable interest from many leisure users who want to get back out onto the water. While we are keen to see this eventually, we will need to assess the Government’s latest guidance in respect of what activities and essential travel will be permitted.
Furthermore, even when we are able to reopen our facilities, stakeholders should be aware that arrangements to preserve social distancing will be needed. This means that there are likely to be certain measures we need to enforce that could alter what users and visitors can do. In the meantime we thank you for your patience and support. We will continue to monitor the situation and will advise of any further updates in due course.
As the weeks progress Wick Marina and its facilities remains closed until further notice due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Due to the current situation, the usual seasonal maintenance activities undertaken by boat users/leisure customers would be regarded as non-essential activity and we would ask all our stakeholders to refrain from these tasks until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation and will update our customers with any change to this advice as it becomes available.
Harbour staff are still working maintaining the core elements of our business operation supporting vessel movements, cargo operations etc and although Harbour Office remains closed to all members of the public any enquiries can still be made by phoning Harbour Office on 01955 602030 or alternatively e-mail office@wickharbour.co.uk
We have been asked by our friends at Subsea 7 Wester site to share the following launch information.
Click on the link below
Activities in Sinclairs Bay Equinor – Snorre North Bundle (006) (1)
