After nine months of work Poralu Marine, the French SME which specialises in high end harbour facilities, has just finished the renovation of a marina in the heart of London on the River Thames, in the tourist area of St Katharine Docks. The docks, which are spread over three basins, have been part of the Port of London since 1828. Today they have been refurbished into offices, housing and premises for leisure activities. The basins now house marinas.
“Throughout the entire duration of this site the main challenge has been to move all the boats without disturbing either their occupants or the residents, since nearly 15% of the marina is inhabited on a daily basis. The operation has required a dozen successive phases”, explains Virginie Segura, Project Manager for Poralu Marine.
This urban project includes a real environmental dimension. Poralu Marine has chosen to use equipment in natural materials. Animals have not been forgotten with harmonious duck nesting boxes and discreet spawning grounds placed under the pontoons. What’s more CEI, the Environment Division of Poralu Marine, has been working so that this port is the first to incorporate 32 waste water suction points organised into a network, intended for both house boats and yachts. The objective is zero discharge of waste water in the port.
The refurbishment of St Katharine Docks has been led by ICMS (Inland and Coastal Marina Systems), which has provided the logistics and installation on behalf of the British company, Camper & Nicholsons, responsible for the management of this marina.