Cowes Harbour Services is the new division name for the marine services arm of Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC), encompassing moorings, boatyard, storage, fuel, and commercial.
Following the Marine Services Review last autumn, the Commission has taken the decision to amalgamate its marine services teams into one provider with one name.
This new division, Cowes Harbour Services, will comprise what were Kingston Marine Services and Boatyard, Cowes Harbour Moorings and Cowes Harbour Fuels.
The change will enable CHC to further the Commission’s ethos of one team working together to provide marine services to customers, all under the Commission’s name and adhering to its core values and guiding principles.
The Commission’s objectives going forward are to continue the same high levels of customer service and value for money, provided by an efficient and welcoming team – all under the new banner of Cowes Harbour Services.
Meanwhile, the business name for CHC’s Shepards Wharf Marina is also evolving, and will now be known as Cowes Harbour Shepards Marina.
To reflect these changes in CHC’s marine services changes, the Commission has also launched a rebranded website and Schedule of Charges leaflets, and redesigned flags and signage will soon be installed at Harbour Commission sites in Cowes and East Cowes.
The new Cowes Harbour Services marine division offers the following services to customers across the Island and around the Solent:
Moorings: Cowes Harbour Services owns and licences most of the pontoons, swinging moorings, and pile berths in the harbour and River Medina, as far south as the Folly Inn. With over 2,200m of pontoons, 400 swinging moorings and 30 pile moorings, the team has a year-round job maintaining them and ensuring that boats are safe. Berthing Masters patrol the harbour and check moorings daily.
Boatyard: The Cowes Harbour Services Boatyard at Kingston Wharf in East Cowes is one of the largest yards on the Medina with extensive facilities accommodating up to 150 boats from the easily trailered to yachts and motor boats up to 40 tonnes. A full range of boat maintenance services are provided.
Storage: Located at the Boatyard, are new secure self-storage units (Cowes Harbour Storage), as well as under cover storage facilities for boats on trailers or cradles up to 10m and other dry items. The Cowes Harbour Storage rental units comprise of 48 units from 18 to 90 sqft; ideal for storing boat gear in the winter or household items. The under cover boat store facility covers 4035 sqft with access via a standard door and a 4.6m wide roller shutter door.
Fuel: Cowes Harbour Services runs a deep draught fuel pontoon 200 metres south of the Chain Ferry on the west side of the River Medina, supplying petrol, red diesel, gas, and engine oils.
Commercial: Cowes Harbour Services has a multi-disciplinary team that works afloat on commercial marine and coastal projects on the Medina and around the Solent. Based at Kingston Wharf in East Cowes, the team specialises in the design, supply and positioning of complete mooring systems, plus navigation and race mark buoy management. They take care of pontoon maintenance, local towage, stores logistics, escort duties, transportation and berth repair. The team has two working vessels Seaclear and Seamark, as well as storage and workshop facilities for engineering, welding and painting.
