Shieldaig is a small rural community in Wester Ross, Scottish Highlands. Although it only has around 100 permanent residents the community has a very active Sports Association which engaged Beckett Rankine to prepare designs and obtain consents for an all tide berthing pontoon at their remote and stunningly beautiful site. We also managed the tender process and certification of the installation. The pontoon is designed to not only serve the local fishing fleet but also local leisure users and visiting yachts.

The appointed contractor for the works was Varis Engineering who proposed their heavy duty pontoon system with its galvanised steel frame and hard wearing polyethylene floats. The floats are filled with polystyrene beads which are steam injected to form a solid mass to provide buoyant reserve. The main walkway is 52m long and fitted with grounding legs. The pontoon has a ‘T’ head for berthing which is 11.5m long by 3m wide. The pontoon decking is a GRP mesh which has durable non-slip properties for a marine environment. The pontoons are moored with an array of chain moorings connected to embedment anchors providing a stable platform in a wide range of conditions and uses.

The official opening of the pontoon is due on 29 June 2013 although such is its popularity that it is already being well used.