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The pontoon, named Skyline Barge 15, left Rotterdam a week ago and was towed by tugs to the Mersey, arriving at the weekend. The pontoon sits on ducks-feet shaped four legs, known as spuds with the stage rising and falling with the tide.
It is now undergoing preparation work in Liverpool's West Alexandra Docks, and is expected to be taken to the Pier Head later this week.
For the time being it will be attached to the northern edge of the Isle of Man Steam Packet stage, and is expected to be brought into use next week.
Marine engineers will then start work on removing the remainder of the sunken landing stage that went down earlier this year during freak weather conditions. When the debris is removed, the new pontoon will be moved to the southern end of the IoM stage, where it will remain until a permanent landing stage is completed, probably in 18 months time.
The arrival of Skyline will be a welcome relief for Mersey Ferries who until now are having to share the IoM landing stage.
It has meant that on occasions ferry journeys have had to be cancelled because Irish Sea ferries are tied up at the stage.
The old landing stage, in use for around 40 years, sank two months ago when one of the lowest tides of the year then one of the highest, occurring with hours, strained the booms
holding the stage to the river wall. That led to the whole structure sinking beneath the waves.
The temporary resting place for the new replacement stage, closer to Princes Dock, will eventually be needed for the new cruise liner terminal which is currently being built in Birkenhead.
That extension is about 1,000 ft long and will attract between 40 and 50 cruise liners to the Liverpool waterfront every year.
larryneild@dailypost.co.uk
Source:
icLiverpool
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