Marina Extension in Ipswich?

[Concerto]

It seems like Ipswich Docks have now submitted a planning application.

Ipswich port and marina upgrade: £2m development proposed

 

[ex-Gladys]

It was on Look East a night or two ago. They have revoked the original design (moving all berths to the "Southern" side...

 

[Major_Clanger]

ABP's original plan was to build high-rise, up-market flats on the island site with much of the marina devoted to the new residents. A thorough survey was carried out in 2020 with bore holes made. The results scuppered the plans because it turned out the island is basically a Victorian rubbish dump and doesn't have the solidity necessary to make it suitable for such building without enormously expensive prep work which ABP, at the time, elected not to do. I wonder what the current building plans are?

ABP's shipping activities are almost incidental. First and foremost they're a property developer with a huge amount of land on their portfolio. I was told that they're second only to the Crown Estates which, if true, is staggering. I certainly don't see them as a great ally to commercial shipping and/or leisure sailing.

Very sad to hear that Alan Swann has died. Met him a few times and always found him helpful, cheerful and a bit mad. A good combination in my book.

 

[Daydream believer]

Bottom line is you cannot polish a turd.

Yes you can. They proved that on Mythbusters

 

[Greemble]

Bottom line is you cannot polish a turd.

It would seem ABP are going to give it a try...
From the link posted by Concerto:

...in front of Coprolite Street and the main university building.

 

[WF36]

Neptune starting to empty out...

Waterfront revamp plans will have 'positive impact', report says

 

[alandalus11]

Starting to empty out. ????? Only one boat left. Its already emptied out. Very sad. Money spent on getting new lock gates and mechanisms fitted should have been a priority to stop the breakdowns before starting to revamp the Haven/Beacon site. What's the point of extending Beacon marina if boats cant get in or out due to lock failures??

 

[PaulRainbow]

Starting to empty out. ????? Only one boat left. Its already emptied out. Very sad. Money spent on getting new lock gates and mechanisms fitted should have been a priority to stop the breakdowns before starting to revamp the Haven/Beacon site. What's the point of extending Beacon marina if boats cant get in or out due to regular lock failures??

Lock out of action today. ABP don't seem to have heard of preventative maintenance.

EDIT, back in action now.

 

[PeterWright]

will this plan negate the use of the dock by visting tall ships? looks like it will

I think the Orwell bridge has already made it impossible for the big barques to get into the dock. The 111 ft Geist, built by Spirit yachts, was the tallest ship that can pass the bridge, bur only at one point on the tidal curve which left her keel very close to the bottom of the river and her mast cap very close to the underside of the bridge. That means that the smaller vessels that race as tall ships will stil get in and out, but the bigger ones won't. The barques cannot get up to London these days because of the Elizabeth bridge.

Peter.

 

[PeterWright]

From the ABP FAQ

5. The Sailing Barge Victor is berthed outside the Old Custom House and is important for the character of the Wet Dock but there isn’t enough space for turning in the proposals?

ABP is very willing to explore this further with the skipper of the Sailing Barge Victor. The proposal does provide up to 45m to swing the 25m-long vessel. ABP has already considered a number of options that could assist the Victor with manoeuvring in more challenging conditions.

Hi Paul,

The two swing circles are marked on the proposal plan you published. If they are indeed 45m diameter, that's rather more spece to swing than barges used to get in their last days of trade when they were usually poked right up the west pointy end of the dock. Most sailing barges these days have fairly powerful auxiliary engines to help the swing, which many didn't have before the fifties and sixties. In those days, a 66hp Kelvin was considered big enough to scrap the rig altogether and call her a motor barge. Auxiliary barges these days tend to have about 120hp engine.

Peter.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Hi Paul,

The two swing circles are marked on the proposal plan you published. If they are indeed 45m diameter, that's rather more spece to swing than barges used to get in their last days of trade when they were usually poked right up the west pointy end of the dock. Most sailing barges these days have fairly powerful auxiliary engines to help the swing, which many didn't have before the fifties and sixties. In those days, a 66hp Kelvin was considered big enough to scrap the rig altogether and call her a motor barge. Auxiliary barges these days tend to have about 120hp engine.

Peter.

Thanks Peter, but looks academic now, ABP have changed their plans and are not extending the pontoons on the Haven side just demolishing Neptune and putting 14 (i think) 20m berths in its place.

 

[Plum]

Hi Paul,

The two swing circles are marked on the proposal plan you published. If they are indeed 45m diameter, that's rather more spece to swing than barges used to get in their last days of trade when they were usually poked right up the west pointy end of the dock. Most sailing barges these days have fairly powerful auxiliary engines to help the swing, which many didn't have before the fifties and sixties. In those days, a 66hp Kelvin was considered big enough to scrap the rig altogether and call her a motor barge. Auxiliary barges these days tend to have about 120hp engine.

Peter.

Yes, ABP did consult with a number of associations, including the OGA, when they specified swinging circles.

 

[Greg2]

Thanks Peter, but looks academic now, ABP have changes their plans and are not extending the pontoons on the Haven side just demolishing Neptune and putting 14 (i think) 20m berths in its place.

So are ABP simply reducing capacity overall Paul?

 

[PaulRainbow]

So are ABP simply reducing capacity overall Paul?

Current plans, submitted to the council, are to remove 93 berths at Neptune and build 15 new ones (20m i think).

 

[Greg2]

Current plans, submitted to the council, are to remove 93 berths at Neptune and build 15 new ones (20m i think).

Sounds like a financial decision - less infrastructure to replace and reduced capacity potentially helping to justify increased berthing costs? Perhaps I am being a little cynical

 

[Egret]

Will there still be space for all the people who had moorings in the Ipswich dock area?

 

[PaulRainbow]

Will there still be space for all the people who had moorings in the Ipswich dock area?

Neptune had 90+ berths, although i don't think they were all full. There wasn't 90 empty berths in the Haven, so no, i don't think there would have been room for all of the Neptune boats.

Rumour has it that only 39 boats moved over, the rest left. I don't know if it is true or not, but there are still empty spaces here.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

Associated British Ports | ABP submits plans for £2m investment in Ipswich Beacon Marina improvements

This is the idea.
Not sure if this is still the plan.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Neptune had 90+ berths, although i don't think they were all full. There wasn't 90 empty berths in the Haven, so no, i don't think there would have been room for all of the Neptune boats.

Rumour has it that only 39 boats moved over, the rest left. I don't know if it is true or not, but there are still empty spaces here.

Not sure that would be all due to the takeover etc... There has been a waiting list in West Mersea for years, but this year there are many vacancies apparently, with a number of local boats up for sale

 

[PaulRainbow]

Associated British Ports | ABP submits plans for £2m investment in Ipswich Beacon Marina improvements

This is the idea.
Not sure if this is still the plan.

That is the current plan, but not the original one.

The original plan was to scrap Neptune and extend the pontoons at the Haven, towards Neptune. No pontoons or facilities on the North side of the wet dock (Neptune side). There were also plans to build residential properties along the cut.