Assessment of Boatyard Facilities on the River Thames - Mayor of ...

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<strong>of</strong> floating dry dock for hull work, antifouling etc. Work is only undertaken on PLA
vessels. Denton Wharf is a safeguarded wharf and therefore, the wharf could only be
developed for boatbuilding and repair if it was no longer appropriate to retain its use
as a commercial wharf.
Comments (2007)
The PLA has made considerable improvements to the facilities at Denton Wharf since
the 2000 study. These include:
• A hoist dock and travel capable <strong>of</strong> lifting vessels up to 65 tons and 21/22 metres
long by 6.8 metres beam – providing it is properly balanced;
• Workshops and base for PLA divers including training tank and decompression
tank;
• Offices;
• A new workshop building for the grit blasting chamber – large enough for buoys
and small craft; and
• Hardstanding
The PLA plans to harden <strong>of</strong>f more <strong>of</strong> the inner quay to provide hard standing for
vessels lifted by the travel hoist. The main constraint is the width <strong>of</strong> the gate in the
flood wall.
Denton Wharf is available for use by third parties and users include:
• Thames Clippers (the small 62 seater catamaran);
• Briggs Marine and other watermens’ mooring boats;
• Capital Pleasure boats;
• Van Orde Dredging;
• Private individuals.
The facilities at Denton Wharf are not sufficient to maintain all the PLA’s craft. The
patrol craft are maintained at Gillingham Marina. The salvage craft (30 x 10 metres x
300 tonnes) is refitted at ABP Port <strong>of</strong> Lowest<strong>of</strong>t.
The PLA has objected to Gravesham Borough Council’s draft SPD for the Canal Basin
/ North East Gravesend waterfront sites. The PLA considers that the residential
proposals could prejudice the operations at Denton Wharf and at Denton Slipway.
The PLA has arranged a meeting with Gravesham Borough and SEEDA to explore the
opportunity for a cluster <strong>of</strong> marine based industries at north-east Gravesend.
<strong>Assessment</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Boatyard</strong> <strong>Facilities</strong> on the River Thames Adams Hendry Consulting Ltd - April 2007