Clipper Race pontoon to berth leisure craft in city

ENGINEERS have installed massive piles into the bed of the river Lee to support a €250,000 pontoon which will allow leisure craft berth in the city centre.

The 100-metre long, 2.5 metre wide floating pontoon, which is being built off the Port of Cork’s South Custom House Quay, is expected to be completed in under three weeks – just in time for the arrival of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet.

The fleet, which is due to arrive in Kinsale in early July, is to sail in to Cork city centre and berth there as part of a major festival.

The pontoon, which is funded mostly by the Port of Cork, with a contribution from Cork City Council, is described as a lasting legacy of the fleet’s visit.

It will also be used for events like the Lee Swim and the Ocean to City Traditional Rowing Race.

The structure is being supplied by Inland and Coastal Marine Systems, Banagher, Co Offaly.

The piles were installed by BAM Civil Ltd of Little Island, Cork.

The installation of the pontoon and gangway began yesterday.

The new facility is being constructed 15 metres away from the quay wall, which will allow boats to berth on both sides, giving about 180 metres of berthage in total.

The Port of Cork company is finalising the details relating to the management and operation of the pontoon. It is intended there will be charges for overnight use, but harbour users who have paid either mooring or boat charges will benefit from a discount.

In order to protect the interests of legitimate mooring holders in a situation where there is a shortage of available space, the port company is planning to conduct a detailed survey of all moorings in the harbour later this year. Any mooring that does not carry the correct identification or any mooring that has not been paid for will be marked for removal, the company said.

These moorings will then be removed in an operation which is scheduled to commence the week of November 15.

Meanwhile, final details of the festivities planned to celebrate the arrival of the Clipper fleet in Ireland have been published online.

* corkclipperfestival.com