News - 30/04/14

Cowes Harbour Commission is pleased to announce that our contractors Boskalis Westminster intend to start construction of the new Cowes breakwater on or shortly after Wednesday, 7th May. To ensure the safety of navigation during the breakwater construction, a breakwater ‘Exclusion Zone’ will come into force on Tuesday, 6th May. Full details can be found in Local Notice to Mariners No 08(T) of 2014. 

CHC and breakwater contractors Boskalis Westminster recently held a follow-up meeting with Cowes Week Limited, Cowes Classics Week and Cowes Clubs and Classes Association (CCCA), at which agreement was reached on the extent of the breakwater ‘Exclusion Zone’. The CCCA has just issued its 2014 Sailing Instructions (SIs), which include important information on the breakwater construction for competitors in the Cowes keelboat regattas. In addition, Cowes Week Limited has confirmed that the SIs for Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week will also contain full details on the breakwater construction programme. 

It has been agreed that the size and shape of the breakwater ‘Exclusion Zone’ will vary slightly as the works progress so as to keep the impact on harbour users to a minimum. No vessels, apart from those engaged in the works, are permitted to enter this ‘Exclusion Zone’ as it will be fouled with submerged chain, wires and anchors, floating pipelines, and associated vessels and barges.

The ‘Exclusion Zone’ will be marked by lit buoys and will be as shown in Fig 1. for the first phase of the works, which is expected to last approximately four weeks.

Please see Local Notice to Mariners No. 08(T) of 2014 for more information.