Oceanographic Survey
Tidal flow survey for Chichester Harbour Pontoon development
Chichester Harbour Conservancy
Oceanographic Survey
Chichester Harbour is one of the UK’s most popular leisure harbours, with an estimated 25,000 people enjoying its waters for racing, cruising and fishing each year. The harbour is home to over 12,000 residential vessels, representing about 25% of all the recreational craft in the Solent.
Chichester Harbour Conservancy (CHC) is the Statutory Harbour Authority responsible for the safe and efficient use of the waterway, alongside its stewardship of the harbour as a Natural Landscape.
CHC planned to develop Itchenor pontoon, extending the previous pontoon by 7 metres further out from shore, and to add 100 metres to improve vessel walk-ashore berthing and improve access to the harbour ferry.
ABPmer was commissioned to undertake a survey to understand the difference in tidal flow between the original and extended pontoon. The survey identified a maximum increase of 0.2 knots between the two locations, deemed to not constitute a safety risk to non-powered craft.
The survey informed a Navigational Risk Assessment (NRA) for the project, conducted jointly with the Chichester Harbour team. This included identifying hazards during the construction and operational phases, speaking with stakeholders and developing a set of risk assessments identifying risk controls (mitigation).
The pontoon development has since been completed.
ABPmer's oceanographers deliver a comprehensive understanding of physical processes for marine projects and developments through the collection and processing of current flow, wave and water quality characteristics. Learn more about our oceanographic survey capability.
