WARNING - Millport Bay effectively closed from Monday 11th September

[dunedin]

Regarding Millport Bay, at the South end of Cumbrae on the Clyde - See new Notice to Mariners posted by Peel Ports - https://www.peelports.com/media/kug...prevention-scheme-breakwater-construction.pdf

They are apparently starting work this Monday 11th September of a new breakwater which is being built between the islands in Millport Bay, entirely blocking the traditional entrance.
It looks like the visitor moorings and anchorage West of the Eileans will be entirely closed off and inaccessible till March 2024 (at least that is my interpretation of the NtM - local experts may help clarify).
It shows a path to the pier, but not the one I had expected from the NW of the Leug islet, but instead passing E and N of the Eileans - an unmarked passage with only 0.6m at CD according to my most detailed UKHO chart (Hunterston Channel).

Was thinking of going there this weekend with family. It might be the last chance to visit before it gets changed for ever.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

It may cause silting later and the water depth inside the breakwater getting shallower. A beach I was familiar with would lose all it's sand for a few years after a storm until another eventually brought it back. I am sure they will have done their work to test this. It could also be a good solution for providing pontoons. I guess we shall see.

I am sure Millport will be grateful if it provides the storm protection they need.

 

[dunedin]

It may cause silting later and the water depth inside the breakwater getting shallower. A beach I was familiar with would lose all it's sand for a few years after a storm until another eventually brought it back. I am sure they will have done their work to test this. It could also be a good solution for providing pontoons. I guess we shall see.

I am sure Millport will be grateful if it provides the storm protection they need.

Yes, sadly Millport had not yet benefitted from an Antares Chart survey, which would be able to get more accurate information about any changes to depths - may deepen in some places and silt in others.
Your confidence in the accuracy of any research into silting effects is higher than mine.

And yes there were pretty pictures of future pontoons in the early artists impressions, but no funding and not part of current plans.

PS. RunAgroundHard will be an accurate description if anybody attempts the traditional entrance in the dark, using old charts / sailing directions.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

... RunAgroundHard will be an accurate description if anybody attempts the traditional entrance in the dark, using old charts / sailing directions.

Indeed, that is a significant feature of current publications that needs to change fast.

 

[ylop]

I suppose Antares will have known this was in the pipeline so it didn't make sense to chart this (its quite a big bay) and then need to redo it.

PS. RunAgroundHard will be an accurate description if anybody attempts the traditional entrance in the dark, using old charts / sailing directions.

The NTM did say different lights will be in place and the old ones turned off which should be a clue to a sober sailer!

 

[dunedin]

The NTM did say different lights will be in place and the old ones turned off which should be a clue to a sober sailer!

Lights? Who uses them any more?
Surely you just follow your previous tracks on your chart plotter?
《bang》

 

[ylop]

Lights? Who uses them any more?

Oh sorry how very old-fashioned of me!

Surely you just follow your previous tracks on your chart plotter?
《bang》

that seem a high risk even in daylight - what with the water level changing with the moon and stuff! But I take your point that many a millport visitor is not consulting a chart, or necessarily sober, or clued up. I suspect when the work boats are there it will be lit up like Christmas - the fun could be when the new season starts (assuming they are finished on schedule!)

 

[penfold]

The entry scheme proposed is ridiculous, entry from the south west would make sense. How that barrage will make a meaningful difference to flooding is beyond me, it looks more like a half-baked marina development.

 

[West Coast]

Locals told me last week that the stone infills are to provide wave defence in strong southerly winds which makes sense to me. Totally agree however re the suggested entrance from the east, the west entrance is surely easier

 

[ylop]

Locals told me last week that the stone infills are to provide wave defence in strong southerly winds which makes sense to me. Totally agree however re the suggested entrance from the east, the west entrance is surely easier

My understanding was that once it was finished the entrance was to the west. I assume the route shown was for access to the harbour during the works, when the area to the west is bouyed off because there’s a huge barge in the middle of the obvious route and various commercial vessels operating. The only vessels that normally go into the harbour are small dayboats, dinghies etc.

 

[ylop]

The entry scheme proposed is ridiculous, entry from the south west would make sense. How that barrage will make a meaningful difference to flooding is beyond me, it looks more like a half-baked marina development.

My understanding (because this has been open for consultation / planning etc for many months/years) was this was part of a bigger scheme and provides protection from waves for the shore based works. There is indeed some plan for a small marina/pontoons. Better to design for that possibility than build something that blocks mooring access or makes a future visitor pontoon impossible. I don’t think it will be big enough for an actual commercial marina - more a Rothesay or Oban style Transit marina. I imagine people who enjoy the free council mooring bouys may be in for £££ shock if that happens. Still it should be more comfortable than the current moorings in S winds!

 

[penfold]

My understanding (because this has been open for consultation / planning etc for many months/years) was this was part of a bigger scheme and provides protection from waves for the shore based works. There is indeed some plan for a small marina/pontoons. Better to design for that possibility than build something that blocks mooring access or makes a future visitor pontoon impossible. I don’t think it will be big enough for an actual commercial marina - more a Rothesay or Oban style Transit marina. I imagine people who enjoy the free council mooring bouys may be in for £££ shock if that happens. Still it should be more comfortable than the current moorings in S winds!

The enclosed area is as large as Largs marina; admittedly there's a lot of shallows and doubtless a few lumps of rock but sand can be dredged, shale is soft enough to remove mechanically and in any case half the area is deep enough without dredging.

 

[ylop]

The enclosed area is as large as Largs marina; admittedly there's a lot of shallows and doubtless a few lumps of rock but sand can be dredged, shale is soft enough to remove mechanically and in any case half the area is deep enough without dredging.

But “proper” marinas have travel hoists, storage ashore, toilets/showers/laundry, chandlery, workshops etc. I’m sure the artists impressions show tens rather than hundreds of berths.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

October 2022, Ayrshire Growth Deal - Cumbrae Transit Marina Project. It is called transit marina, I guess because there will not be permanent berths, although that is mentioned. It has a number of options: -

https://cumbrae.org/assets/files/AGD-MARINASMillportCommunityMeetings1213Oct22P03KD.pdf

Personally, the coastal flood defence is the priority of course, but what great opportunity to develop marine tourism and income for Millport. The Rothesay marina has proven very popular over the years. How much income such a transit marina would generate for the local economy, I don't know. Likely sustainability for cafes, pubs and restaurants, some visitor attractions and a few jobs. The risk is that income doesn't keep up with maintenance costs, which is what happened at Rothesay and took a long time to get resolved (was that income or poor management). Whatever, it is a good opportunity in my view.

 

[dunedin]

But “proper” marinas have travel hoists, storage ashore, toilets/showers/laundry, chandlery, workshops etc. I’m sure the artists impressions show tens rather than hundreds of berths.

Millport Bay already has a travel hoist and storage ashore - for local boats at least

 

[Tomaret]

But “proper” marinas have travel hoists, storage ashore, toilets/showers/laundry, chandlery, workshops etc. I’m sure the artists impressions show tens rather than hundreds of berths.

I thought that nowadays new “proper” marinas had blocks of flats first, shops, cinemas and restaurants and no need for hoists as there is no storage ashore.

 

[penfold]

The need for a floating breakwater seems to already acknowledge that the breakwater ought to be continued further west, perhaps halfway to the shore. Without that there will be a lot of heave during southerly storms.

 

[Aja]

I thought that nowadays new “proper” marinas had blocks of flats first, shops, cinemas and restaurants and no need for hoists as there is no storage ashore.

Missed out spas. Must have a spa....

 

[ylop]

I thought that nowadays new “proper” marinas had blocks of flats first, shops, cinemas and restaurants and no need for hoists as there is no storage ashore.

Well millport already has at least 3 out of 4 of those - although perhaps not the style you were thinking of!

The need for a floating breakwater seems to already acknowledge that the breakwater ought to be continued further west, perhaps halfway to the shore. Without that there will be a lot of heave during southerly storms.

I think its a solid breakwater rather than a floating one. You may be right, or the people who have the wave data and modeled it to come up with the design might be. I've no idea who is liable if it proves to be shit at its job.

 

[Tomaret]

Missed out spas. Must have a spa....

Other supe ma kets are available.