Vital tanker berth will cost £100m
Monday 19th January 2009, 2:30PM GMT.
GUERNSEY will have to spend well in excess of £100m. to secure future fuel imports, the harbour master has said.
A 1993 States report predicted the island would need a deep-water berth by 2020 and Captain Peter Gill said that forecast was still valid.
‘It was concluded that by 2020 the amount of fuel oil required in the island would have risen to a point where we needed an additional berth. In the absence of anything else, I think that conclusion is still valid.
‘It needs to be done somehow or other by 2020, that’s what we still believe.’
Money was set aside in 2003 for extending St Sampson’s Harbour and, at that time, the work would have cost £93m.
‘That cost was not just for a deep-water berth though, that was to extend the whole harbour,’ said Capt. Gill.
‘Extending it is not the only option now. But with today’s prices, no matter what we do it will cost well in excess of £100m.’
Vessels bringing fuel and other imports into the island have to use the dry berth at St Sampson’s Harbour – a situation which has led to only seven tankers worldwide being capable of using it.
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Island Life
All about Guernsey
Ambassador of the Year 2011
History & Heritage
Visitor Information
Guernsey's government
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
Useful Links
What xactly is meant by “Money was set aside in 2003 for extending St Sampson’s Harbour and, at that time, the work would have cost £93m”
Is this real money or mickey mouse money?
Is the money available or deoes it have to be borrowed?
What has happened to the £93 million “set aside” in 2003?
Report abuse
Isn’t it about time we started investing more in renewable energy rather than increasing our dependence on oil, which is only going to get more expensive as the years go by? We are lucky enough to boast near perfect conditions for tidal power, a much cleaner source of energy with absolutely minimal impact on the environment (or visual aesthetics), and the States have already invested £250k in what looks to be the best technology to date (SeaGen), so what’s stopping us? It would be good to be a step ahead of the game for once…
Report abuse
Helen
You are so right. What happens when the oil runs out. We should not only be investing in tidal power but in a diversity of SMALL renewable energy projects so we are not totally reliant on any of them and they are not huge blots on the landscape. Knowing the States penchant for the grandiose I doubt that has even entered their thinking. They will be looking for one big very expensive fix.
If the States spent £100 million pounds on grants for loft insulation for everybody those buildings could use up to 20% less fuel. Give every household a free energy efficient light bulb. Get automatic lights of systems when no movement is detected in States buildings and demonstrate how much they save to the private sector.
We seem to have accepted that energy consumption will continue to grow despite the fact we could reduce demand easily without making any sacrifices and save a lot of money too.
Report abuse
Absolutely outrageous! In light of the States purchasing two tankers, thus now essentially having a state run shipping line (when shipping worldwide is on a downturn) – we were told it was necessary because our harbour dries out and they were one of only seven worldwide. Now we need a deep water berth? If plans for extending St.Sampsons have been in place since 1993, why still no action? 100 million seems rather a lot – for that price, why not run a pipeline from the existing deep water berths in St Peter Port? Or why not use a barge/ex tanker moored offshore to transfer from larger vessels – many counties do so quite successfully. The whole thing is a sham!
Report abuse
I thought the two new tankers purchased were done so because they were the one of the few ‘worldwide’ that would fit into the dry dock.
What is the point of buying them specifically for the dock if we have to then build, just 5-7 years later (it will take 3 years to build no doubt) a wet dock?
Did good old Lyndon factor this into his unilateral decision making? If not, then it just goes to show what happens when someone makes a decision off the cuff with taxpayers money.
He is such a liability.
Why would we need a dry dock if we own two tankers? They can alternate their rota and as such there will only be one unloading at any one time.
What solutions have Jersey got?
Report abuse
What solutions have Jersey got?
Answer : Let Guernsey buy the tankers and everything continues as normal. Grateful thanks to the Guernsey taxpayer (also from Isle of Man) which seems to be the other customer for Vedrey Tora.
As for the other ship, the Vedrey Thor, that has spent much of its time at anchor off Bembridge, followed by a trip to the Baltic, then to Hull, where it was at anchor for some days, before moving on to Liverpool where it is at anchor.
Deputies should ask searching questions before the debate next week.
Report abuse