Phase three of the Cowes breakwater construction will commence today, Wednesday, 9
July.

The latest Notice to Mariners says this involves the placing of the geotextile membrane over the top
of the 1.5m sand layer and the wick drains.

The Breakwater Exclusion
Zone is unchanged and is marked by lit buoys for the
third phase of the works, which is expected to last for approximately
four weeks.

The area shown as small craft moorings has now been filled
with mooring buoys and vessels not proceeding to a mooring shall avoid
entering this area; craft should enter the harbour via the fairway or
Small Craft Channel only.

A floating orange and black lit pipeline remains anchored parallel to
the breakwater on the northern side, and a large 60m barge
will be positioned anywhere along the breakwater footprint. The barge
will contain plant associated with the works.

Timescale

Following this summer’s initial construction phase, there will be a consolidation period to allow
for settlement of the breakwater structure during the autumn through to spring
2015.

The contractor, Boskalis Westminster, will then return to Cowes to re-dress the core structure
and complete the construction of the breakwater during the summer of 2015.

The £7million construction of the 350 metre long breakwater is the
first phase of transforming Cowes into a ‘true sheltered harbour’, according to Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC).

The project is a joint initiative between
CHC and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) with both parties funding the
work, with co-operation from the Crown Estate.

Updates

A new Notice to Mariners will be issued on the CHC website prior to any further changes to the exclusion zone.

All vessels are reminded that they must stay outside of the exclusion zone at all times; contravening this would breach the Cowes Harbour General Direction 10.1.

Images: The Cowes Breakwater precautionary area; A floating pipeline; the exclusion Zone in force