Posted on December 28, 2017
By Adrian Darbyshire, IOMToday
Silting up of Peel marina is worse then ever – and boat owners say enough is enough.
Captain Eddie Kaighin of the Isle of Man Harbour Users’ Association has written to Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer calling for members to be exempted from paying berthing fees until the problem is solved.
He wrote: ’One of the most attractive and expensive assets on the island is being neglected by government, and taxpayers’ money squandered to the detriment of our members, other harbour users, visitors, locals and anyone else who either uses or visits Peel Harbour. We feel that enough is enough.’
Captain Kaighin said the problem of silting has been going on for years but a solution seems to be no nearer.
With no licensed facility currently available for the potentially contaminated silt, the Department of Infrastructure is planning to trial three different disposal methods early in 2018.
This may result in about 12,000 tons of silt being removed from the river-side of the marina. But no further dredging is currently scheduled for 2018.
’In the meantime, Peel Marina remains silted up to a worse degree than before, with it deteriorating further each day and many berths becoming virtually unusable,’ said Mr Kaighin.
He estimates 20,000 tons of silt will need removal to achieve published depths.
Mr Kaighin claimed progress was being prevented by the island being signed up to various conventions by DEFA.
The main contaminants are heavy metals from mining activity.
On top of this there is the problem of debris such as tree trunks and large branches entering the marina.
The Harbour Users’ Association has suggested the construction of a silt trap and debris screen.
But with no foreseeable end to the problems, the group are asking to be exempted from paying marina berthing fees until a solution is found.
In a statement, director of ports Ann Reynolds rejected the idea that marinas are being ’neglected’ and said the ports division regularly meets with the Harbour Users’ Association.
She said: ’As everyone knows, the silt within the impounded area of Peel has too much heavy metal content and it would be better environmentally if the silt did not get disposed of at sea.
’Equally, there is no appropriately licensed dump site on land for permanent disposal of contaminated silt material. ’
Ms Reynolds said while the department is considering all options for disposal, there are three potentially sustainable options it wishes to pursue in 2018.
She said: ’Each of these options are being considered as a trial for 2018, each using around 4,000 tonnes of silt – and viability and scope of work is ongoing.’
The director of ports said the request for free berthing fees will be considered and said those harbour users in Peel affected by silt build-up had received a significant reduction in fees this year.
Source: IOMToday
