With winter well and truly here, the Whitehaven Marina team is busy with a full maintenance programme to ensure that everything within the marina is in good working order before the boating season. This includes a long list of important tasks that need to be carried out on the sea lock. The dates for this year’s annual sea lock closure are as follows:
The Whitehaven Sea Lock will be closed between 0800 hours on 20th January and 2300 hours on Saturday 6th February 2010.
During this time there will be NO access whatsoever through the lock in either direction. Whitehaven Marina would like to apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause, but this annual maintenance is vital to ensure that the gates work safely and reliably over the next twelve months.
The Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners are funding these works for the benefit of all who use the harbour, which includes the fishing fleet and commercial vessels as well as the leisure boats. The work will be project managed by Marina Projects who have considerable experience in this field and who will take into consideration all operational, environmental and health and safety issues.
Mark Bowden, Whitehaven Marina Operations Director commented: “We’re really grateful that the Whitehaven Commissioners are funding these very important works. We will be overseeing the whole programme very closely, ensuring that the disruption to marina users is kept to a minimum. There is a long list of tasks to be done including the installation of new lock bearings and seals throughout, upgrading the lock operating software and overhauling the hydraulic equipment. However all this work means that in future years, the sea lock will be closed for a shorter period.”
Throughout the autumn and winter Simone Morgan the Marina Manager and her team regularly carry out ‘pontoon walks’ to check all the boats afloat and ashore, re-align fenders, check mooring lines, boat cradles and pump out bilges.
There is still hard standing boat storage space ashore at Whitehaven Marina and there are special deals on boat lifting until 6th February 2010. If you wish further details on boat lifting or have any queries about the sea lock closure, please contact the Whitehaven Marina Office on Tel: 01946 692435 or email: enquiries@whitehavenmarina.co.uk
