Conwy Marina

[JamesTT]

I have had a call from a neighbour at the marina to let me know that the marina basin became rapidly flooded this morning.
Work to install a new flap gate is on going, we recieved advice from the marina on Friday that there would be no access in and out this weekend, so we didn't bother going.
The new flap was fixed in a verical position on Friday and the work to make it rise and fall is continuing.
At 6am this morning the flap apparently collapsed and the river rushed in flooding the basin and raising the water level by 4ft in a matter of minutes.
The force of the water ripped out some of the under pontoon floats and sections of the pontoons and various fingers were under water, warps from vessels were in effect suspending the walkways.
My neighbour isn't aware of any vessels bcomming damaged but he said it was quite scary, he was asleep on board at the time and arrived on deck thinking a Tsunami had hit North Wales!

 

[LittleShip]

And just remind everybody

Just how much are you paying for this superior marina in the North West.

PU and PO is my answer!

 

[Kilter]

It's much cheaper to get your boat bashed on a swinging mooring in the river! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Lawsy]

Yet again, Conway Marina does f all to let contract berth holders know there has been a problem. I know that James has said before now that one can ask to be put on the e.mail info list, but why should I have to ask. I know that the marina has my e.mail address so surely if they actually cared about the berth holders it wouldn't be that difficult to take the initiative & send an information e.mail out without waiting to be asked?

 

[hlb]

Sounds like good news to me, there was never any water in the marina before, now it's got four foot, that cant be bad.

 

[hlb]

What I cant understand, understanding locks a bit.

The water in the marina should hold the flap/gate whatever shut. No power on earth should be able to open it. It cant colapse because of the weight of water, inside the marina. The only time water can come into the marina is over the flap, but then only slowly as the tide rises. I can only envisage, if flap broke, water could only gush out. Gushing in, dont make any sense at all. I'm sure it did, but makes no sense to me.

 

[JamesTT]

HLB, it confused me when I was first told as the flap gate should be holding the water in the basin, as you suggest.

I am aware that the flap gate was to remain fixed in the upright position over the weekend as the work continued to replace the hyrdaulics, hence the no access or egress statement from the marina.

The flap is currently poorly sealed so what has been happening for a while is that water leaks out during the period that the gate is in the upright position, this situation has been on going for some time and as you state as and when the water level rises in the river with the tide the gate drops and floods the basin when the river level and basin level are equal.

My thoughts are that the situation that occured over the weekend is that the flap was unable to lower as we know, so on a rising tide it was effctively working in reverse. Due to the leakage from the basin and due to the on going work and the fact that the new flap is not complete and fully sealed sealed very little water was retained during the low tide cycle causing an unexpected pressure surge on the gate from the river as the tide came back in.

 

[misterg]

Going down there shortly - post in the next 30 mins if you want me to check on anything.

Andy

Edit: gone now. (1 PM received).

 

[ERICH]

I walked past Conwy Marina around 3PM yesterday ~ near low water ( Sunday ) and work was continuing on the lock gate and there was hardly any water in the marina and the majority of boats were sitting on the mud !

Eric

 

[JamesTT]

Some pictures of the new flap gate-

Arriving-

[image]

[/image]

And being lifted out onto the barge-

[image]

[/image]

Can you imagine trying to position this structure under water in the dark [--word removed--] waters at Conwy with the tide constantly pulling and moving on it as it flows in and out through the marina entrance?

I can't believe that they have managed it without a caisson.

 

[misterg]

I don't think there's any cause for alarm: some floats out of position on 'B' pontoon, but no sign of damage down in the 'cheap seats' at F and H pontoons.

Work is continuing on the gate, and the marina was practically empty at ~ 15:30, with another 2 hours to low water. I believe that they (intentionally) left the sill gate open several times during the preparatory work, so everything would have been on the mud.

Problems fitting the new seals mean that the work is continuing, with no access or egress for the next 24h, at least.

Andy

 

[JamesTT]

Andy

Thanks for the update, I had to look at the picture twice, the mud looked like water!

 

[Lawsy]

Thanks to Andy (misterg) for not only confirming that Blue Moon has survived the marina problems unscathed, but also for sending me a couple of photos as proof. Nice one!

 

[hlb]

Never mind Blue Moon, how the hell is Mucky Farter gtoing on. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[JamesTT]

I should imagine that the rush of water and rapid elevation came as quite a shock to those lucky bertholders soundly asleep in thier bunks! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[misterg]

[ QUOTE ]
Never mind Blue Moon, how the hell is Mucky Farter gtoing on. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought she was immortal and indestructable /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

In fact there's a counter rumor going around that MF's engines got themselves started and had a quick blast ('cos they're bored, what with being locked in, and all) and the mini tsunami was nothing to do with the gate. The mysterious fog that descended at the same time tends to support this version /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif.

Seriously, I had a wander along a few of the pontoons, and apart from 'B' pontoon looking a bit wonky, there was nothing amiss that I could see (no cleats ripped out, no parted lines, no burst fenders, etc.).

Most stuff was sitting in mud as I left, and one or two raggies were leaning over a bit due to lack of water (not alarmingly so, but not quite 'business as usual', either). The main pontoon had up hill and down hill bits to it, too.

Andy

 

[hlb]

She keeps buggering off every now and then, I keep telling her not to, I'm sure it's not safe. I mean, it's ok if she's not going far. She'd probably be testing and resetting the after burners I suspect.

Anyway I found a poem for you. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif



When Mucky Farter goes out to play
She does it in her most immortal way.

The engines fire, about tenth time round
Then make a noise so all around

are warned that she’s going out to sea.
So they all know where they must be.

The hard of hearing, need not worry.
For them she has a big black slurry
of thick black smoke, they will have to hurry!

So all of Plymouth is forewarned.
Even the navy is disarmed.

With this high tec and stealthy ploy
Must admit,. the neighbours, it does annoy.

But never mind, with a noise like thunder
Leaves them all in aw and wonder.

Just like a rocket leaving earth
So doth she, depart her berth.


Leaving the marina, the smoke doth clear,
Only thoughts are from here to where.

Hoping the engines do roar on.
Is it left or right or just straight on.
Merv the perv has done his checks, so carry on, just straight on.

Don’t bother about a bit of sea,
MF will deal with it. Maybe not you, you see.

It might get a little bit bumpy.
What you mean, your feeling grumpy.

Out upon the wild west sea.
Only in glee should you be.

There are no mud flats around this bit
So there is no point in looking sick.