Cowes Outer Harbor Project Meeting Held

Cowes Harbor Commission’s (CHC) public presentation and review of the Outer Harbor Project was held on 19th May 2016 at the Island Sailing Club in Cowes.

Hydrodynamic consultants ABPmer and program managers Marina Projects were also present.

The purpose of the meeting was to deliver an update on progress with the Outer Harbor Project (OHP), report on the review carried out over the past year, and provide information on the consultation process that CHC is conducting regarding the proposed changes to the already consented Outer Harbor Project scheme.

Following an introduction by recently elected Chairman of Cowes Harbor Commission, David Riley, the Harbor Master Capt. Stuart McIntosh gave a summary of the OHP review carried out and the optimization proposed as a result of that review.

A technical overview of the tidal and sedimentation modelling was delivered by Gordon Osborn, ABPmer’s Head of Modelling, supported by Managing Director Bill Cooper. After the ABPmer presentation, Stuart McIntosh summarized the proposed way forward and David Riley concluded with an explanation of the consultation process.

During the meeting, among others, CHC acknowledged the concerns regarding silting in the harbor, welcoming discussion on specific concerns with the stakeholders.

Following the consultation and decision process regarding the next phases of the Outer Harbor Project, CHC will, in partnership with stakeholders, develop a medium-term maintenance dredging plan for the harbor.

This plan will benefit from the extensive modelling that has been developed, based on detailed surveying, and also the estuarine analysis carried out by Dr. Rob Nunny.