Monday 10 May 2021
A proposed new port for freight and fuel imports would free up valuable space around the island's existing main harbours and provide an opportunity to revitalise the Bridge.
That is the recommendation of the States' Trading Supervisory Board (STSB), following a comprehensive review of the island's harbour requirements.
Under proposals to be debated by the States, it is recommending that all commercial port activity is moved away from St Sampson's Harbour to a new facility south of the Longue Hougue land reclamation site. That would leave the current harbour to focus on providing facilities for leisure boating.
Areas currently used for freight operations along Southside, St Sampson, and Northside, Vale, would also be freed up for development.
Passenger services would remain at St Peter Port, along with all roll-on, roll-off freight. However the main harbour cranes would be relocated to the new port, along with all lift on, lift off cargo operations, and the current harbour would be reconfigured.
This would include a new passenger terminal on North Beach. An underground car park at the weighbridge roundabout end would replace any current spaces being lost, and could potentially relocate parking away from other parts of Town. Other areas around the White Rock currently used for port operations would be freed up for other uses.
The proposals have been costed at around £350 million, including the creation of the new port and the reconfiguration of St Peter Port. However most of this would be for the construction elements, which would not begin before 2027 at the earliest. This provides time to consider all funding options, including private investment.
STSB's policy letter also outlines plans to improve leisure marine facilities, to attract more visitors and expand the island's 'Blue Economy' business. These include potential new marina developments within the existing harbours or possibly Havelet Bay, which would provide an opportunity to address the current shortage of berths for larger leisure vessels.
The headline cost does not include development of new marinas or improved facilities for the leisure marine sector. Provided sufficient demand can be established, those elements could be progressed separately, with or without a new port development, and sooner.
However relocating commercial operations away from the existing harbours will provide more scope for developing the leisure offering.
The proposals follow a Requête that was debated by the States in 2019, which proposed a major extension to St Peter Port Harbour, east of the QEII Marina. STSB was subsequently directed to carry out a review of the island's harbour requirements, and assess "the impacts, practicalities, and potential benefits of relocating some commercial port operations away from St Peter Port."
The location of the proposed new port, Longue Hougue South, has previously been identified by the States as a potential land reclamation site. This would involve building of an outer breakwater, to enclose an area that can be infilled using inert waste materials from the construction and demolition industry.
The construction of a new port facility at Longue Hougue South would not be dependent on the proposed inert waste site going ahead. However if the States agree to the STSB's current proposals, the current design of any new land reclamation site in this location could be reviewed, to provide for the optimal port arrangements.
Material might also be stockpiled at the current inert waste facility for a period, to enable an area of land reclamation at Longue Hougue South to be completed in tandem with the development of a new port.
The STSB's is asking the States to debate the policy letter in June. Full details of the proposals can be found at www.gov.gg/futureharbours.
