Isle of Wight-based Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC) has opened a new, dredged Eastern Channel featuring improvements in harbour access.
The dredging works to construct the Eastern Channel were begun in January of this year and completed before the end of March by contractor Jenkins Marine.
The dredging could only be done over the winter due to the presence of eel grass beds off East Cowes.
Small craft of up to 20 metres in length approaching from or departing to the north or east can now use the Cowes Harbour Eastern Channel and avoid the busy main harbour entrance, thereby de-conflicting small craft from the larger commercial vessels.
The 35-metre-wide Eastern Channel is dredged to 2.25 metres below chart datum, making the minimum depth of the water in the Channel equal to the height of tide plus 2.25 metres.