TEIGNMOUTH Maritime Services (TMS) has been appointed to lead a £2.2 million project to safeguard the long-term future of the ‘iconic’ Stonehaven Harbour.
The Aberdeenshire Council project comes following steel sheet piling at the harbour having suffered corrosion, as well as pitting to the extent that there are now large voids in the existing sheet piles – which has resulted in the material behind the sheet piles being exposed and at risk of being washed out by the tidal sea waters.
As the material behind the sheet piles is primarily made up of rubble and loose material, the local authority said, if it were to be washed out, over time it could lead to potential collapse of the piers themselves.
It added that TMS will seek to minimise any increase in pier dimensions to maintain navigational channels as far as practicably possible and to allow the existing boom – which is used to protect the inner harbour during storms – to be used after the improvements.
Philip McKay, head of roads and infrastructure at Aberdeenshire Council, commented, “This is a hugely-important improvement scheme for Stonehaven which was unfortunately postponed owing to the impact of the Covid pandemic on the construction industry.
“Given the deteriorating condition of the existing harbour infrastructure, this is quite simply a must-do project and timing to coincide with the summer tides and weather is equally critical.
“We appreciate there will be some disruption this summer, however we want the town’s harbour to remain a wonderful tourist attraction and a source of economic wealth for the town for decades to come.”
