Following the success of the Mayflower landing pontoon – our first project on the Barbican – we were asked by Cattewater Harbour Commissioners to design and deliver a second extension to support growing demand on the site.
| Client | Cattewater Harbour Commissioners |
| Date | March 2026 |
| Where | Barbican Landing Stage, Plymouth, Devon |
Working closely with the Cattewater Harbour team and local fishing operators, we designed and built a heavy duty public access pontoon measuring 35m long by 5m wide, with a 1.1m high steel frame and our reinforced concrete deck boards for long-term durability in a demanding marine environment.
The pontoon was fitted with a 200mm “D” fender to handle higher berthing loads, alongside a half-height hardwood fender to suit lower freeboard vessels. We also supplied and installed a full range of operational equipment including 5 tonne bollards, ladders, handrails and lifesaving equipment, creating a flexible facility that can support a wide range of commercial users.
The new landing stage gives the local fishing fleet a reliable mooring point outside the lock gates while increasing capacity at one of the busiest walk-ashore locations on the Plymouth Barbican.
The structure was delivered from Ireland by road to Plymouth, with offload, assembly and installation carried out by P&D Environmental. Piling works were completed jointly by P&D Environmental and TMS, while Cattewater Harbour Commissioners managed marine logistics and plant operations throughout the programme.
This project has provided additional commercial berthing space in the centre of Plymouth, improved operational flexibility for harbour users and created safer public access for both visitors and operators.
Funding support for the project was provided by the Marine Management Organisation, helping deliver long-term benefits for Plymouth’s local fishing and commercial fleet.
Charles Weston-Baker, Chair of the Cattewater Harbour Commissioners Board, comments: “For over 150 years Cattewater has worked hard to support its stakeholders and invest in projects that help support them. I am delighted that, following the success of the first extension to support charter vessels and tripping boats, this new extension provides our commercial fleet with somewhere to tie up when they are waiting for the lock gates or to go to sea.”
“By creating dedicated, safe and efficient berthing for the inshore fleet, Cattewater Harbour Commissioners are helping support the long-term sustainability and resilience of local fishing businesses,” says Paul Errington, Acting Director of Finance and Resources at the MMO
Local fisherman Brian Tapper adds: “It will make life much easier for skippers and crews. With fuel prices so high, it’s a cost saving while reducing our emissions too.”
Quotes sourced from Fishing News story on 17 April 2026.
