Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority unveils its new pontoon for Britannia Royal Naval College
Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority has proudly unveiled its latest development – a new pontoon at Britannia Royal Naval College’s Sandquay base – which will play a significant role in supporting future training of Royal Navy officer cadets.
The new pontoon was officially opened on Friday by Paul Britton, Harbour Master at Dart Harbour, alongside Captain Andrew Bray from Britannia Royal Naval College.
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, guests were invited down onto the pontoon to have a tour of the Vahana Officer Training Boats that will now be permanently berthed on the pontoon.
The new facility is the replacement of a previous construction that had reached the end of its useful lifespan and the Vahanas had been moored on the harbour authority’s Town Jetty whilst the new pontoon was being built. It provides improved access to training vessels on the River Dart, supporting the hands-on practical experience that is central to officer development, alongside the College’s modernised Officer Commissioning Course.
Designed with safety and practicality in mind, whilst meeting the College’s needs, the pontoon will play a key role in delivering high-quality maritime training. The harbour authority guided the project through regulatory requirements alongside project managing the build with WALCON Marine.
The project involved the design and installation of 69 metres of heavy-duty commercial pontoons and an 18-metre steel access bridge to support Royal Navy training vessels. Key features include recessed safety ladders, heavy-duty rubber D-fendering, Rolec service pedestals, lighting and emergency cabinets.
Captain Andrew Bray ADC said: “I am thrilled to open the new Sandquay pontoon alongside HM Paul Britton. Access to the River Dart remains a vital part of how we deliver the absolute best training to our naval officers.
“As the College reframes its training around war fighting readiness, it is right that we do so from a modern and up-to-date facility.”
Paul Britton, Harbour Master, said: “As a not-for profit trust port, we run Dart Harbour for the benefit of our stakeholders, so we were very pleased to have the opportunity to provide new facilities for the Naval College. Every officer in the Royal Navy starts their career here at Dartmouth, and this new pontoon means that they once again can begin their on-the water training on high-quality facilities”
Captain Bray concluded: “We could not have done it without the fantastic support of the Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority and their superb sub-contractors. They should equally be as pleased as we are with the product which will play a central part of the training of Royal Naval Officers in Dartmouth for years to come.”
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