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Floating moorings set to welcome boaters to Liverpool

17th Feb 2009

22 new floating pontoons have been installed at Salthouse Dock in readiness for the opening of the Liverpool Canal Link in spring 2009.

The finger pontoons are comprised of three different sizes, providing high specification mooring facilities for up to 44 boats.

Costing £120K, the pontoons were designed and installed by specialist contractor Intermarine. Funding was provided by Objective 1 ERDF and North West Regional Development Agency, through the Waterfront Connections programme. Over the next few weeks the pontoons will be connected to water and electricity supplies.

The new moorings are an important component of the visitor destination offer in the South Docks, and will help to improve the vibrancy of the waterspace by attracting boaters in significantly greater numbers.

The new canal link, which is due to open in the spring, will bring further economic benefits to Liverpool, echoing a time when the city’s docks were a transhipment hub for inland waterways freight. For the first time in over a century, canal boats will be able to navigate the current 127 mile Leeds & Liverpool Canal straight into the heart of Liverpool.

Steve Higham, external funding officer for British Waterways said: “Developing high quality pontoons in the South Docks has been an important aim of British Waterways since we took ownership of the waterspace in 2003. The pontoons will provide key services for boaters to enjoy their stay in the heart of the Liverpool Waterfront at the end of their journey along the newly created Liverpool Canal Link.”

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, added: “Liverpool’s new canal link will be another step forward in the transformation of the city’s waterfront, which has witnessed unprecedented levels of investment in recent years. The NWDA recognised the economic potential of this project, which is why we committed significant investment to ensure the delivery of the scheme, as well as providing funding for Waterfront Connections to support public realm and other works to enhance attractions at the Waterfront. The installation of the Salthouse Dock pontoons is further evidence of the scheme really taking shape.”

Last updated: 18/02/2009