New marina and deep water port for Stornoway

[Nick]

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The proposal is for a new 80-berth marina behind Goat Island, and a deep water port that can take big cruise ships alonside on the opposite side of the harbour.





https://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news ... -1-4873260

[claymore]

Perhaps we now need one in Ullapool or somewhere so that peeps can manage sailing beyond Ardnamurchan in bite size chunks

[marisca]

Much too far from the Crit!

[Nick]

Perhaps we now need one in Ullapool or somewhere so that peeps can manage sailing beyond Ardnamurchan in bite size chunks

There's already a pontoon at Flowerdale in Gairloch, which is an ideal jumping off point for Stornoway - at least 10nm shorter than going from Ullapool.

[claymore]

Indeed - but it doesn't have the old fashioned charm of Oilypool

[DaveS]

That looks impressive, any idea who's paying for it?

Does Sandwick Marina (shown in yellow) exist currently, or is this additional new development?

I haven't been to Stornoway for a few years.

[Mavanier]

Sandwick is still just a proposal. A fairly major development, with big breakwaters, new road access, etc.
Newton Basin isn't developed yet either. It will need dredged, some infill to create hardstanding, and of course the pontoons themselves.
It will be great for SY to gain a dedicated hard standing and boat lift facility. Something that was usually lacking from the previous harbour board's plans.
I'm a little sceptical about the Sandwick proposal- that's going to be pretty bumpy in a southerly...

[pagoda]

Sandwick is still just a proposal. A fairly major development, with big breakwaters, new road access, etc.
Newton Basin isn't developed yet either. It will need dredged, some infill to create hardstanding, and of course the pontoons themselves.
It will be great for SY to gain a dedicated hard standing and boat lift facility. Something that was usually lacking from the previous harbour board's plans.
I'm a little sceptical about the Sandwick proposal- that's going to be pretty bumpy in a southerly...

Agreed. Looks exposed. Planning to head up that way again this year- and quite happy to find any bit of quay they have free, rafting included.

[pagoda]

Well we have been into Stornoway recently and had a look round at the new works at Sandwick.
Lots going on, huge diggers and dumpers building sea walls and wave breaks.
It sound like Stornoway Port Authority (from the lads at the harbour) the new facility is to allow the local boats to move out for the sailing season and back to town in winter.
It was a fair walk round to the new works but in average Scottish summers it could be a long wet drag. So if visitors still use the near-town berths it could be OK- with some more dredging hopefully. Many boats getting this far North & West aren't shallow draft or small. Many of the "local use" fingers at the "town" berths are potentially less useful to far flung visitors.
Hope Stornoway Port Authority realise this......
And there's some site investigation / drilling going on in the new deep water / cruise liner berth area at Arnish.

[pagoda]

Well we have been into Stornoway recently and had a look round at the new works at Newton Bay.
Lots going on, huge diggers and dumpers building sea walls and wave breaks.
It sounds like Stornoway Port Authority (from the lads at the harbour) the new facility is to allow the local boats to move out for the sailing season and back to town in winter.
It was a fair walk round to the new works but in average Scottish summers it could be a long wet drag. So if visitors still use the near-town berths it could be OK- with some more dredging hopefully. Many boats getting this far North & West aren't shallow draft or small. Many of the "local use" fingers at the "town" berths are potentially less useful to far flung visitors.
Hope Stornoway Port Authority realise this......
And there's some site investigation / drilling going on in the new deep water / cruise liner berth area at Arnish.

Apologies for confusing Sandwick Bay and Newton Basin.... All the current marina activity is in Newton Basin.

[Mavanier]

Have they published a figure for the final dredged depth?
Newton is a little way out of the main centre of town, although reasonably handy for the Tesco at least. And you could probably nip round by tender if you wanted to- assuming they give you the gate codes for the existing marina as well.

The new facility is supposed to have a travelhoist and handstanding, which will be a very welcome boost for anybody keeping a yacht there.

We were up ourselves recently, and it does sound as though the Port Authority is now under good management and heading in a sensible direction.