Swansea Marina

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Shot of the South Dock area of the marina, taken from Trawler Road

New berthing area just behind the River Tawe barrage, Pocketts Wharf building is visible to the right

Swansea Marina is a marina located behind the Swansea Bay barrage at the mouth of the River Tawe in Swansea, south Wales. Swansea Marina was awarded blue flag status in June 2005[1] and has been awarded five gold anchors by the Yacht Harbour Association.[2] There is a boat yard for building and servicing boats, and a few shops selling boating equipment.

Boating organisations based at Swansea Marina include Swansea Yacht and Sub Aqua club and the Swansea Bay Sea School, which owns a 72ft ocean racing yacht.[3]

[edit] History

After many years of industrial decline in the Lower Swansea valley, the South Dock of the Swansea Docks complex finally closed in 1969 leaving the area as an industrial wasteland. It was sold to the council for a nominal sum. Initially, a new relief road was proposed to take traffic away from the Oystermouth road. However, there was a government reorganisation in 1974 which decided on a new planning strategy. By 1975, a new planning strategy had been prepared which identified social and economic policy objectives with a new regeneration programme.

It took a further 5 years for land acquisition, clearance and infrastructure installation before redevelopment could commence. New sea defence works were installed, the dock basin had be cleared of debris and new moorings needed to be installed for the new marina. More efficient modern lock gates were fitted, along with a new swing bridge and the quay sides were paved to create a new public walkway around the dockside.

The yacht marina was opened in 1982 providing berths for 385 boats. It was not until 1992 that the Swansea Bay barrage was completed, transforming the River Tawe into long lake. Additional berths were constructed behind the barrage, just outside the marina proper, providing berthing for an additional 200 boats. A lock was incorporated into the barrage design to allow the passage of boats between the River Tawe system and the sea.

[edit] Future developments

As part of the developments at the Prince of Wales Dock, 400 new berths will be created taking the total berthing capacity in Swansea to over 1,000 boats by 2010.[4]