Council plans to build pontoon at Sherkin Island's Abbey pier

Cork County Council is seeking to appoint a consultant with experience of marine civil engineering works, for the preliminary design and tendering of a new pontoon on Sherkin Island in West Cork.

The contract covers the preliminary design, contract documents, and tendering process of the project, to be delivered in a one-year period.

Cork County Council is seeking to install the pontoon to create ease of access for the islands population and to cater for the increase in summer vessels visiting the area.

Sherkin Island is located within Roaring Water Bay, with access provided via a ferry operating from Baltimore Pier.

The Abbey pier, where the proposed pontoon will be placed, is the main pier for the island and is protected by a breakwater on the southern-eastern side of the harbour.

Home to 100 residents

Sherkin Island is home to more than 100 residents, and outside scheduled ferry times, locals make their way between Baltimore and the island on their own boats.

It is proposed that the pontoon will be in place from March to October and will be removed during the months of November to February each year.

Access for the locals will be required on the northern side of the pier, and a solution is required for the winter months to allow local vessels to tie up and shelter.

The consultant will be required to provide architectural, engineering and planning services, consultative engineering and construction services, civil engineering consultancy services, technical planning services, marine conservation strategy planning, and environmental institution building or planning.

As no dedicated cost estimate has been provided for the project, the consultant is required to provide a detailed cost estimate, setting out the basis for cost estimates, including vat, at the design stage of the project and updated again prior to tender stage.

Following an assessment by Cork County Council, the tenderer with the lowest overall notional tender price, who scores 100 marks, will be deemed the most economical advantageous tender price.

Tender applications will be accepted until 12pm on September 29.