As part of the wider Weymouth Quay Regeneration project, we supplied a new heavy-duty fuel pontoon for Weymouth Harbour. Developed following a successful Coastal Communities Fund bid, the project’s aim was to enhance the harbour’s facilities for both leisure and commercial users, providing a crucial upgrade to support local businesses and the wider community.
| Client | Dorset Council |
| Date | September 2024 |
| Where | Weymouth Harbour Fuel Pontoon, Dorset, UK |
The new fuel berth is a key feature of the regeneration of Weymouth Harbour’s peninsula quayside, creating modernised facilities for fishing, charter and harbourside businesses alongside improved public spaces. Led by Dorset Council, the project was delivered by contractor Knights Brown, with P&D Environmental responsible for installation and RMCS (now MHPS) providing services installation.
For this busy fuelling point, we supplied a 30m x 3m heavy-duty pontoon with a 500mm freeboard, robust GRP decking and durable fendering. Constructed from five interconnected pontoon units with two service points, the design ensures it can withstand the high berthing loads generated by both commercial and leisure vessels. Fabricated from galvanised steel for strength and longevity, and incorporating flexible joints between the pontoon units, the system delivers resilience and smooth operation in challenging marine conditions.
Throughout the project, several technical challenges were successfully navigated. These included adapting to a moving delivery and installation schedule within the overall regeneration programme, and carefully joining the new pontoon to the existing system while maintaining precise line and level. We also made allowances for the tidal range, ensuring that the pontoon’s position and freeboard avoided clashes with the existing quayside gangway brow. In addition, the team worked closely with the fuel pump supplier to design and incorporate additional buoyancy under a large pump unit, ensuring the pontoon maintained stability under load without affecting performance.
The new pontoon significantly improves fuelling operations at Weymouth Harbour, creating a safer, more efficient and future-proofed facility for a wide range of marine users.
Duncan Glen, Project Manager at Knights Brown, comments: “The new heavy-duty pontoon at Weymouth Harbour is a vital addition to the regeneration project, offering essential infrastructure that will benefit both commercial operators and leisure users for many years to come.”
The new heavy-duty pontoon at Weymouth Harbour is a vital addition to the regeneration project, offering essential infrastructure that will benefit both commercial operators and leisure users for many years to come.
