Critical £1.8m Repair Needed For Coleraine Harbour Infrastructure

Councillors have been told urgent repairs, costing up to £1.8m, are needed to prevent the collapse of vital sea defences at the mouth of the River Bann.

Coleraine Harbour Commissioners have warned that the damaged bar mouth structures could lead to significant flooding and economic damage across the area without immediate intervention.

According to harbour officials, the 100-metre concrete moles at the river entrance are showing serious signs of deterioration.

"The rock armour that protects these structures has badly degraded," representatives from the Harbour Commissioners told Causeway Coast & Glens Council's Leisure and Development Committee on Tuesday evening.

"If there was a breach or collapse, there would be a really heightened risk of flooding within the estuary, causing potential threats to homes, businesses and public infrastructure, particularly the railway line that runs alongside the river."

The structures, originally built between 1879 and 1888 and significantly upgraded in 1929, manages the safe passage of 8.5 million cubic metres of water daily.

Video footage presented to councillors revealed horizontal cracks in the concrete and protective rock armour that has broken down and fallen away from the structures.

Commissioner representatives explained: "Without repairs, there would be increased erosion. The sand movement along the coast would completely change, and the bird sanctuary and other ecosystems within the estuary would be severely threatened."

A recent survey identified that 6,000 tonnes of rock will be needed to reinforce the structures, with individual stones weighing between four and five tonnes each.

The commissioners are seeking funding primarily from the Department for Infrastructure and the Shared Island Fund, with contributions from harbour funds.

While they do not request financial support from the council, they ask elected members to lobby MLAs on the Infrastructure Committee to secure the necessary funding.

"We're aiming to start the works in March 2026," the Commissioners stated. "But if we delay beyond the next 18 months, costs could increase by up to £1.5m as the structures continue to deteriorate."

The commissioners also expressed their desire to develop a strategic partnership with the council to ensure the harbour becomes "a key economic driver for Coleraine and the wider area."

The harbour, which was established by Act of Parliament in 1879, spans 16 acres in the middle of Coleraine and hosts several businesses including TBF Thompson, JKC, BMW, and the North West 200.