Port safety

Activity 2 addresses the challenges related to port safety that occur in the transformation of former commercial ports into marinas. In ports dimensioned to accommodate large vessels, conditions on the water (waves, traffic) and quays are often unsafe for small and vulnerable leisure boats. The changing use of a port may also influence hydrological dynamics, urging measures to keep passages and quays safely accessible and maintain the integrity of coastal defences.

The following partners and their projects will be involved in this activity team:

  Perkpolder, Zeeland - Identification and design of modifications to the port entrance to improve safety in port (protection from waves) and prevent silting up of port entrance and subsequent realisation of the proposed modifications.   Syndicat Mixte Dunkerque Neptune and Greater Dunkerque Council - Study on possibility and feasibility to improve sea barrier at port entrance to increase safety in port (protection from waves) and subsequent realisation of the proposed modifications.   Brightlingsea Harbour - Hydrological study to identify a solution for constant silting up of the harbour, to ensure safe access and mooring for boats while respecting ecological needs. Additionally, some quay-side safety measures are needed.   Sustainable Marina of the Future - Developing a model to determine possibilities and constraints of building a new marina at Brouwersdam on existing hard-face sea defences without compromising their strength and protection levels.

This activity team will implement the following actions:

  JAT2 will record state of the art in approaches and measures to increase port safety from the TRANSCOAST partners, and other comparable sites. Using this information, an analysis of the safety challenges of each site is performed by JAT2 expert staff. They will set detailed parameters and give specific guidance for the implementation of safety related studies and measures.   Carrying out site specific studies (based on action a) to identify the concrete measures and solutions to achieve the required safety level for each port. The JAT2 members will be involved throughout the delivery of each site specific study, acting as an advisory group providing guidance and reflection in all stages of the process.   Implementation of safety modifications identified by the studies by partners LP, P12 (both safety modifications to port entrance) and P8 (quay side safety measures). JAT2 assists these partners during implementation with on-demand expertise, and on-the-spot guidance during a site visit.   Evaluation and synthesis. Methodology and results of the studies and implemented measures are evaluated by JAT2 members. This results in a synthesis report, presenting the applied measures and tools and lessons and guidance, to be of use for other actors in this field.

Main aim of this JAT:

The dimensions and specifications of former industrial, fishing and ferry ports, often are not suitable for safe use by a new target group of yachts and leisure boats. When transforming such ports into marinas, measures and modifications to secure safety in the port must be considered.

The aim of this Activity is to enable the authorities responsible for transforming former commercial ports into marinas to identify the appropriate safety measures to accommodate the new function of their port.

This aim is achieved by:

  cross border analysis of safety challenges and investigation of the appropriate measures for different Transcoast sites.   implementation of safety measures for different Transcoast partners sites   synthesis of generic port safety measures for use by other actors in this field.

Expected results:

record of state of the art approaches and measures for port safety   analysis and guidance for addressing port safety for 4 Transcoast sites produced   studies to identify measures and solutions to improve port safety for 4 Transcoast sites produced   safety modifications at the port entrance on 2 Transcoast sites completed   quay side safety measures in 1 Transcoast site in place   synthesis report presenting measures, tools and guidance for improving safety in transformed ports developed

Read Joint Activity Team Three - Anchoring transformed ports in the community