This year is expected to be another amazing boating season for Central London’s leading visitor and event superyacht marina, St Katharine Docks. The Marina’s 140 permanent berths are already full for 2014 and the visitor berths are booking up fast as boaters confirm cruising plans. The Marina has dedicated visitor berths permanently, and during peak times vessels can be rafted to create space for larger yacht rallies.
St Katharine Docks in Central London
William Bowman, Marina Director at St Katharine Docks is looking forward to a busy year. ‘In the last two years we have seen a marked increase in the number of visitors as boaters acknowledge the improvements that have been made to the marina facilities. We have welcomed over 1,500 different vessels which equates to nearly 11,000 visitor nights and the average length of stay was a week. Around two dozen Clubs and Rallies have already booked to stay over the summer period, including some overseas Club visitors from Belgium, Germany, Holland and Denmark.
The marina is the official Clipper Race start and finish port and a highlight of 2014 will be the return of the 12-strong Clipper fleet in July. In September the St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival takes place and it is hoped that around 40 historic vessels will fill the Central Basin.
When the acquisition of St Katharine Docks was announced in the summer of 2011, the new owners stated their commitment to invest in the marina and dockside premises. The aim was ‘to turn the Dock into a stunning waterside environment for yacht owners, workers and residents alike.’
Nearly three years later the improvements have had a significant effect on the appeal of the marina to permanent and visitor vessels. Key improvements include extensive dredging, the introduction of static and mobile pump-out stations and enhanced security.
Dredging and Pump-out facilities
William continued, ‘Early last year in preparation for the arrival of the Clipper fleet we dredged the Central Marina which has resulted in a depth of around 5 meters of water throughout the three docks. In addition to this removal of years of accumulated silt, we introduced static and mobile pump-out stations to encourage vessel owners to deal with their boats’ discharge responsibly.’
More Flexible Access
Locking times at St Katharine Docks have traditionally been rigidly time-bound according to high water (2 hours before and 1.5 after). While this is acceptable to the majority of boaters, the marina team has now been able to increase the window of opportunity so that larger groups can be more efficiently accommodated.
William explains how. ‘This year the locking times will take into account tidal depth as well as tidal height. This will allow more flexibility either side of high tide – particularly Spring tides – and result in longer opening times. We will also be using the sluice gates to manage water levels within the docks, which may increase the time of lock openings on some days by as much as 30 minutes.’
A second improvement to the marina access is the introduction of ‘free-flow’ periods where both lock gates are open and vessels can enter and exit without the need for locking. This option needs advanced planning and near perfect conditions to implement.
‘If conditions are good on the lead up to high tide we can free-flow for up to an hour. This is particularly appealing to large groups of vessels wishing to depart together as traditional locking out can take up to an hour for 10 vessels. Leaving together as a single run of boats with both locks open is a much more favourable, secure and sociable option.
Enhanced Security
The marina has enhanced its security with the introduction of a fibre-optic network Access Control System. Berth-holders access pontoons using personalised proximity tags rather than the traditional numerical keypads. As well as providing holders access to pontoons, the tags will also activate entry to the landside shower blocks. Tags will be programmed in the same way as hotel keys so access to facilities will be aligned with berthing dates and fully monitored to ensure optimum security.
This entry system is supported by an extensive CCTV operation with gate-mounted cameras on individual pontoon gangways. Access to vessels can be reviewed at the Capitainerie and cross-checked against card holder records to deter misuse.
William added, ‘We have already had cases where use of the images has led to improved security and peace of mind for our berth holders.’
Throughout 2014 St Katharine Docks will continue its ongoing programme of infrastructure repairs and refurbishments.
