News - 24/10/16

The Isle of Wight Council has submitted a Works Licence Application to secure consent to complete remediation and improvement works to the Cowes Chain Ferry slipways at both East and West Cowes in order to accommodate the new Chain Ferry. The works are anticipated to take place between January and March 2017. 

The works will be carried out above the spring low water mark as highlighted yellow in the diagram below: 

Chain Ferry Works Licence Application diagram

The works will include:

East Cowes
• Removal of the current slipway surface.
• New sheet piling to the north to support the new wider slipway.
• Relocation of the retaining wall to the north of the slipway.
• Remediation and repair work to the chain pits and counter-weight systems.
• Relocation of the northern chain 2.25m to the north.
• Resurfacing of the slipway (including new chain troughs with sound-deadening material inset).

West Cowes
• Removal of the current slipway surface.
• New sheet piling to the north to support the new wider slipway.
• Relocation and renewal of chain anchoring points.
• Resurfacing of the slipway (including new chain troughs with sound-deadening material inset).

General
• New chains to be fitted and calibrated.

During the works, the Chain Ferry will be off station and out of service and the chains will be disconnected and removed. The works are within the existing boundary of the licence agreement between the Isle of Wight Council and the Crown Estates Commissioners.

No restrictions on vessels transiting the area are anticipated, however, for obvious reasons vessels will not be permitted to navigate across the slipways highlighted yellow (see diagram above) during the works. The extent of these works will be marked using buoys or poles and a Local Notice to Mariners will be issued in advance.

A separate Local Notice to Mariners will be issued prior to the work to install the replacement chains, which will span the river.

Drawings of the new slipways and full works methodology are available to view at the Cowes Harbour Office by appointment.

Any comments on the above application should be passed in writing to the Harbour Master by 09:00 on Friday, 25th November 2016.