Customised Pontoon Delivered for Land Rover BAR
A new pontoon for Land Rover BAR
Following our selection as the official UK marina partner for Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR), we’ve now designed and constructed a high specification customised pontoon for Land Rover BAR team’s new headquarters.
The new pontoon gives the Land Rover BAR team essential access to the Solent as well as the first-class facilities they need while they train in the UK and compete in the UK leg of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series.
Our team’s expertise in providing specialist marina advice and solutions meant we were ideally suited to oversee the pontoon’s development. The project began in 2014 when we managed the consultation with everyone involved in the pontoon’s licensing, construction and use. We also worked to ensure compliance with legislation, and meet any environmental, technical and operational concerns with the new pontoon.
Manufactured by Walcon Marine, the MDL-branded pontoon has been created with the highest quality materials, including continuous concrete flotation and beautiful sustainably-sourced hardwood decking. The attention to fine detail extends to the MDL logo embedded in the deck boards– a first for the industry. The pontoon is fully serviced with water and electricity and lit with stainless steel lighting, recessed into the deck.
Lots of challenges along the way
We had to make sure the pontoon worked in practical terms, and didn’t impede navigation to surrounding berths or interfere with the active ferry port. Because it can get choppy, the pontoon uses heavier and longer mooring pile sections than usual and has been designed so that it flattens out the sea in adverse weather conditions.
The installation started in May. The entire build was carried out from the sea, including all the deliveries of material. We completed in a record three weeks – just in time for the Land Rover BAR team to sail one of the AC 45 catamarans into the base and moor up alongside the new pontoon, marking the beginning of the team’s work out of their new Portsmouth base.
Alex Beere, Head of Consultancy at MDL Marina Consultancy, commented: “Supporting Land Rover BAR, this has been a particularly exciting project for our consultancy team. Managing projects of this kind, from conceptualisation through to delivery, is what we do best. It’s great to have been able to make a significant contribution towards the team’s campaign.”
David Powys, Land Rover BAR Base Manager, added: “The pontoon created by MDL Marina Consultancy is truly excellent. It complements our innovative new base, providing essential access to the Solent for team training.”
The pontoon was completed by the MDL Marina Consultancy team as part of a six-year deal with MDL Marinas to become Land Rover BAR’s Official UK Marina Partner.
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