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| 22 November 2005 - 1000 tonnes of pontoons disappear in Dublin City Centre |
| Almost 1000 tonnes of concrete pontoons have disappeared into the Liffey and merged perfectly with the backdrop of our beautiful cityscape.
The pontoons were so discreetly designed and skillfully inserted into our city centre that there was no comment at all by the media. Whilst the new Waterbus “Spirit of Docklands” and it’s “Liffey Voyage” have been the focus of much media attention and admiration, no one seems to have noticed the equally impressive pontoons that are a more important part of the same initiative. |
The design and installation of the pontoons and anchoring system is the work of an Irish team led by Milford Marina systems of Kilkenny and contracted by the Dublin docks development authority (DDDA).
The development consists of three Waterbus landing stages—one south-east of the Ha’penny bridge, one at the Point and one at the mouth of George’s dock on the Custom House Quay. Also part of this initiative is 180m of 4m wide concrete pontoons Custom House quay. These replace the pontoons that were placed here 8 years ago for the tall ships race, but were no longer up to the job. This floating quay is set away from the fixed quay wall so that both sides can be used at all stages of the tide. It is designed to take mega yachts of up to 1000 tonnes in wind gusts of up to 160 Km/Hr. They are not moored to ugly piles, as is common in the UK, but by 250 tonnes of concrete anchor blocks and a discreet rubber anchoring system that is invisible from above the water. |
| The DDDA were very much part of the design team responsible for the invisible pontoons. Rod Calder-Potts of Milford Marinas, said “it has been a pleasure working with the DDDA team. They were very receptive to new ideas, very supportive and brave enough to go for the radical new design, whilst always respecting the unique nature of our special River Liffey and its’ historic Quays. |
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Milford Marina Systems, Highbank, Farmley, Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland
Tel: +353-56-7729918 | Fax: +353-56-7729987
E-mail:
www.milfordmarinas.com
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