KYLEAKIN HARBOUR WORK DELAYED DUE TO NESTING CHICKS

Work to remove old harbour structures at Kyleakin harbour has been halted after nesting gull chicks were discovered.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), which owns the infrastructure, has appointed Orkney-based Leask Marine Ltd to demolish the redundant ferry berthing infrastructure.  However, when Leask Marine arrived on-site to start work on Monday 12 July, three gull chicks were found nesting on top of one of the dolphin structures.

CMAL has demobilised the project to avoid disturbing the young birds.

Brian Sydney, senior engineer, CMAL, said:

“The area was checked for wildlife during the initiation phase, but clearly the birds have set-up home in the intervening period.  We can’t move or disturb the chicks, so we have decided the best and most efficient action is to return to site later in the summer after the chicks have flown the nest.  Timings have yet to be confirmed, but it’s likely we will return in September.”

The two dolphin structures are being demolished and removed because they are no longer needed.  They were part of the harbour infrastructure for the Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin ferry service and haven’t been used since the ferry service stopped in 1995 when the Skye Bridge opened.

 

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