After delays, Lynn Seaport Marina repairs get under way

LYNN – After a two-week delay, work on Seaport Marina will finally get underway, according to Community Development Director James Marsh.”They’ll start removing the damaged docks (today) and the new ones will be in by January 1 (2013),” he said. “We’ve moved from the paperwork, engineering and design phase to the actual construction stage.”Marsh said he thought the work might get started Friday but after Harbormaster James Perry there was “still quite a bit of a heave on,” due to the nor’easter that swept through two days prior, the work was again postponed.A memo dated Nov. 2 from Scott Haggerty, general manager of BTT Marine Construction out of East Boston, showed that work was to begin on the new docks Nov. 5 but Hurricane Sandy got in the way.Marsh said the 160-slip marina actually suffered damage from Sandy, some nuts, bolts and timber knocked loose, but nothing significant.It would be tough for the average person to notice an increase in damage considering the current shape of the marina. Docks float freely, some submerged, many broken. Last spring more than half of boat owners had to find new locations for their boats because the slips they previously used were in such disrepair they were shut down.The damage has been accumulating over the last decade. City officials attribute it to neglect as well as storm damage. Marsh said the marina, due to its location is particularly susceptible to storms out of the south.”Nor’easters are the least destructive because of the way the Nahant causeway is situated, it protects us,” he explained. “A southwesterly storm we have to be more careful of.”The planned repairs include installing new B, C, D and E docks and adding a concrete wave attenuator for protection. Marsh said the new docks will be built to withstand a Category 1 hurricane.At full buildout the marina will once again include 160 slips but this particular project will only bring the number up to 145.”One hundred will be state-of-the-art with free water and availability of electrical, phone and Internet,” he said.Phase II of the project will include rebuilding J dock, where large commercial boats such as Northeastern University’s research boat, were berthed. That however is a separate project that has yet to be funded, Marsh said.As a promotion to woo back the boaters cut loose last summer, Marsh said they offering slip space at $100 per foot for anyone who pays in full by January 1.”The going rate is $112 per foot,” he said. “We’re doing it to promote the reconstruction and reopening of what will be a state-of-the-art dock.”For more information on the project check out [email protected] Stevens can be reached at [email protected].