News - 27/05/14

Breakwater contractors Boskalis Westminster finished applying the sand layer on Friday, 23rd May and the Sospan Dau dredger and D2 spraying barge have now departed the Exclusion Zone. 

The breakwater is submerged with a depth of approximately 0.5m above chart datum, which means that it may just break the surface at Spring low waters. 

The 300m lit floating pipeline in the Exclusion Zone has been anchored parallel to, and north of, the breakwater and is visible both day and night. 

A large spud legged barge will arrive in the Exclusion Zone this week bringing the tall red and white stitcher equipment. The stitcher will be used to insert wick drains through the breakwater and into the seabed. Once the wick drains have been inserted, a geotextile membrane will be laid and fixed across the 1.5m sand layer. This next phase is expected to last approximately eight weeks.

The Exclusion Zone has been reduced slightly with the red No. 2 fairway buoy being moved south to its original position due east of No 1 buoy.

For detailed navigational and safety information, please be sure to read Local Notice to Mariners No 14(T) of 2014.

See also our Cowes Breakwater Project section for information on the construction programme.