This summer Walcon Marine completed a two-stage regeneration project at Premiere Marinas’ Swanwick Marina on the UK’s south coast. The project involved the completed redesign and replacement of the on-the-water infrastructure to deliver a state-of-the-art marina with berths for 333 sailing and motor yachts. The new Swanwick Marina is a showcase for both Premier Marinas and Walcon Marine. It delivers unprecedented levels of safety and convenience for berth holders combined with a top quality, coordinated finish that sets a new standard in the UK and beyond.
Phase one took place over the winter of 2018/19 and involved the replacement of Piers A, B, C and D (see plan overleaf). Walcon then returned in October 2019 for the second and final phase for what was expected to be a six-month undertaking. Walcon’s 2019/20 works schedule included the removal of E pontoon along with its piles and then, once dredging was completed, installing its replacement along with its piles. It was then linked to the single access central bridgehead on D pontoon. With that completed, F pontoon was removed and replaced, followed by G pontoon along with a second access bridge and a marina operative bridge.
As before, all the finger pontoons have been matched to the specified length of the boats that they will accommodate. This is a key part of the marina’s policy to support and encourage owners and crews to use their stern platforms for safe transfers between dock and boat. Walcon’s new, wrap-around finger-end and lateral fenders and composite, colour optioned duct covers have also once again been installed, delivering both practical and aesthetic benefits. A small number of pontoons were also added to the dry stack berthing arrangement to increase capacity.
Walcon was responsible for the demolition and removal of all the previous infrastructure and undertook all the piling required using its road transportable rig. Walcon’s System 2000 pontoons were used for all the walkways and finger pontoons and were manufactured at Walcon’s principal factory just a short distance away from Swanwick.
The completed marina had its first showing to the general public when it hosted the British Motor Yacht Show from the 1st to the 9th of August 2020.