Walcon recently completed an upgrade of the 120-berth Fisherman’s Dock at Poole Harbour. The pontoons there are heavy duty Walcon System 21 and after more than 20 years are still in excellent condition. However, Poole Harbour Commissioners working closely with the Poole and District Fishermen’s Association (PDFA) that manages the facility made the decision to upgrade the decking from hardwood to GRP mesh, and to renew the fendering.
The GRP mesh supplied by Walcon is ideal for commercial and other high traffic locations. As well as being tough it has excellent non-slip properties, is easy to clean and requires minimal maintenance. By installing the new decking, it will not only give the facility a more commercial feel but will also enhance safety and reduce operating costs.
Over the course of eight weeks a Walcon team undertook the removal of the old decking and replaced it with a total of 910m² of weighty and unwieldy mesh grating custom fabricated to match the exact dimensions of the pontoons. All this was done while ensuring that the resident fishing boats could continue to use the boat haven in their normal course of business.
The project was made possible by a funding contribution from the European Fisheries Fund via the UK government’s Marine Management Organisation. Poole Harbour Commissioners supported the PDFA by managing the application and procurement process. As a Trust Port established by an Act of Parliament, supporting the local fishing industry is a key part of the Commissioners’ remit.
Phil Armstrong, Harbour Engineer at Poole Harbour Commissioners, commented; “it was a pleasure working with Walcon Marine to ensure the successful delivery of this project. It was well planned at an early stage and the site team worked very efficiently, adapting their programme to suit the operational needs of the commercial fishermen.”