The race started from the Spanish mainland in April and called at ports in the Canary Islands, Bermuda, United States and Canada on route to the finish in Belfast

Belfast first hosted the Tall Ships in 1991.  Dedicated mooring facilities for Tall Ships were limited at that time and so Belfast Harbour Commissioners were anxious to provide additional facilities for the 2009 event which would be specifically suited to the range of visiting vessels.

RPS has been retained by Belfast Harbour Commissioners on many of their maritime development projects and with our expertise in marinas and other berthing facilities we were appointed to the project for the provision of these additional berthing facilities.

The principal elements of the project were the provision of ten 50 tonne capacity mooring bollards on Queen’s Quay which is now a public riverside walkway adjacent to the Millennium Odyssey Complex and the provision of 250m of heavy duty pontoon walkways in the Abercorn Basin.  The Abercorn Basin is within the harbour redevelopment area now referred to as Titanic Quarter.

Substantial funding for the £1M project was received from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and it is intended that the legacy of the new facilities will be to attract visiting vessels and ultimately long term berth holders to the heart of Belfast.

Contact:
John Wilson, Associate
T: +44 (0)28 9066 7914
E: john.wilson@rpsgroup.com