2022 November December Marina World

New superyacht haven
in Greek isles
GREECE: Marina Porto Heli, a new marina located southwest of Athens in the
islands of the Saronic Gulf, is now welcoming yachts up to 55m (180ft). Built
within a naturally sheltered bay, it has capacity for 149 vessels.
CHANNEL ISLANDS: Walcon Marine has completed a comprehensive like-for-like rebuild of St Helier Marina in Jersey.
The project retains around 250 berths across seven piers for boats up to 25m (82ft) in length, and alongside visitor
berthing.
Walcon’s aluminium System 2000
pontoons and the other two, in a
more exposed location, constructed
from System 21 steel docks. Walcon
also supplied the walkways, finger
pontoons and wall columns. Geomarine
refurbished and reinstalled the two
access bridges.
“It was a pleasure to be working with
the Ports of Jersey and local contractor
Geomarine once again,” said Walcon
managing director James Walters.
“We have worked with Geomarine on
a number of projects over the years,
including the recent works at Albert
Dock in St Helier, and the cooperation
is always excellent.”
Main contractor Geomarine
undertook work between September
2021 and May 2022, during which
the entire floating infrastructure was
removed and replaced. Five of the
seven new piers were built using
WORLD NEWS
300m (980ft) SF Marina concrete dock
system.
The pontoon layout consists of two
arms. Both begin in the shallow areas
with SF Marina type SF1240 pontoons.
With a height of only 1.2m (4ft) and
a freeboard of less than 0.6m (2ft),
they provide ample space beneath the
docks for secure mooring. After angling
inwards, SF400 pontoons are used.
On the east side, the arm continues
with SF1260 pontoons and SF1240
models used for storage. Each of the
two arrays has a pair of interior docks
comprising SF STD 2.4 units.
The greater challenge was the
extensive network of 30 utility ducts.
SF Marina engineers designed large
EM boxes and a unique channel at the
ends of each pontoon with the ability
to cross the network around the centre
connectors. Currently, the ductwork
system contains 16A-125A electrical,
potable water and communication
cables, as well as pump-out. Plans are
being finalised to include fuel service.
“Once our interior marine department
offloaded the pontoon sections with a
floating crane, they were easy to install,”
said Nikolas Aslanidis, manager of the
floating pontoon department at Tomi.
“The marina owner is very satisfied
with the results and we are already in
discussion on a second nearby project
at Ermioni Port.”
Construction, undertaken by the near the west and east walkways and
floating pontoon department at Ellaktor the extensive utility ductwork needed
Group company Tomi, was challenging. to service superyachts. The depth
This was primarily due to shallow water issue was easily overcome with a
Jersey marina invests in rebuild
St Helier Marina opened in 1981 and
this £3.5 million investment is its first
major refurbishment.
www.marinaworld.com – November/December 2022 17