Printable version
Email this to a Friend
Marina developments moving on
01 Dec 2004
The small harbour, just a couple of miles from the open sea, has been dredged, and the new pontoons will make this a viable stopping point for the growing fleet of cruising yachts in the area, and craft en route to and from the Caledonian Canal, as there is no other all-tide haven in this part of the Firth Dunstaffnage - the 140 berth marina just north of Oban will have new facilities building ready for the spring, which will provide showers, toilets, launderette, marina office and a meeting room. A new 4,500 sq ft workshop is also under construction, which will enable a wider range of repairs to be carried out. In addition, a brokerage department will enhance the range of services.
Next on the wish list is more berths, but it will be a couple of years before they materialise, so the waiting list will not disappear yet.
Orkney - councillors at a recent Orkney Islands Council transportation and infrastructure committee have thrown their support behind plans for pontoons at Shapinsay, Rousay, Stronsay, Graemsay, Longhope and Burray, to be operated by IOC.
These pontoon installations will cost approx £ 1/4m over three years, but this was considered a good investment given the 53% rise in visiting boats in just one season since the present marinas at Kirkwall, Scrabster and Westray opened for business in May 2004.
Bo'ness - the historic Forth port and former mining town of Borrowstoneness is to undergo a £150m redevelopment that will include the establishment of a marina in its fine, but long disused, harbour.
As usual, the marina is the eye candy in a scheme that will see restaurants, bars, shops, a hotel and residential developments transform the waterfront, but leisure sailors on the Firth of Forth will not object to anything that will address the chronic shortage of berths and facilities on this excellent stretch of boating water.
