UN looks into Storm Emma Marina attack

THE destruction of Holyhead Marina in a devastating winter storm is being looked at by the United Nations in a bid to make future maritime developments more weather-proof.

Holyhead Marina was hit by Storm Emma in March – damaging 80 boats, several of which sank, and wrecking much of the marina’s infrastructure.

The marina’s owners have commissioned experts to study the likelihood of a similar “unsurvivable” storm happening and are taking advice on the rebuild project.

Anglesey Council is still discussing with Welsh Government and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency about whether an inquiry will be held.

Now the United Nations infrastructure organization (UNOPS) is interested in discovering what went wrong in the storm and how that information can be used in the future.

Ib Kidde-Hansen, from UNOPS, said: “Although leisure projects are not part of our normal work, the organisation is seeking to learn from these events, and to see if these lessons can help develop more resilient infrastructure in future – particularly as climate change increases the number of extreme weather events.”

Holyhead Marina Director Geoff Garrod said they had commissioned their own experts to access the likelihood of a repeat weather incident that was “unsurvivable”.

He said they will also take advice on the construction of a new marina.