Suffolk Yacht Harbour installs Seabin & EV charging point

The East Coast’s leading independent marina invests in environmental programme.

Suffolk Yacht Harbour (SYH) has installed a Seabin and two electric vehicle (EV) charging points at its marina located on the River Orwell in Suffolk.  The announcement forms part of a wider investment into environmental initiatives on the site.

SYH managing director, Jonathan Dyke, commented: “Whilst there is very little rubbish in the marina, the Seabin will collect any waste or debris that makes its way in from the river and beyond.  As passionate yachts men and women, we are committed to help reduce the amount of litter in our oceans to safeguard them for future generations and marine wildlife.”

Invented by two Australian surfers, a Seabin is a rubbish bin for the sea.  Water is sucked in from the surface with a submersible water pump capable of displacing 25 litres per hour and passes through a ‘catch bag’ inside the Seabin. The water is then pumped back into the marina leaving items trapped in the catch bag. Designed to capture up to an estimated 1.5kgs of floating debris per day, including microplastics as small as 2mm, a Seabin V5 Hybrid has been installed at the east end of the SYH marina.

Also this month, a double EV Driver charging point has been installed at the far end of the SYH reception/chandlery building. The dual 32amp / 7.4kW type 2 sockets will be available for marina visitors and berth holders to use.  Payment is made by downloading the EV Driver app.

Jonathan Dyke added: “Suffolk is a beautiful county but not very accessible, so by investing in EV infrastructure we are providing a valuable service to drivers coming to SYH from further afield.”

The Seabin and EV charging form part of a wider environmental investment plan at SYH.  Jonathan Dyke explained: “We are evaluating the whole site and its processes to see where we can improve on our environmental impact.  We have upgraded our marketing materials to carbon balanced paper and packaging, and we are investing in LED lighting in the buildings and on the pontoons.”

Working in partnership with Suffolk Wildlife Trust, SYH helps maintain surrounding wetlands, creeks and grasslands, which are home to bird species and other animals.

Jonathan Dyke said: “The marina’s winter dredging is subject to rigorous licensing requirements to ensure nearby wildlife are protected as much as possible. The mud from the river bed is full of nutrients.  Instead of being dumped at sea or on local farmland, it is deposited on the foreshore of nearby creeks to recharge the beds and help support natural habitats.”

In the marina, SYH abides by The Green Blue code to ensure a balance between wildlife, safety and convenience for boat owners. Eight recycling and disposal areas are located onsite and anything not recyclable is compressed in SYH’s compactor and leaves the site for disposal, thus minimising land fill.

Jonathan Dyke added, “There is always more that can be done, but at SYH we endeavour to adapt and embrace new technologies that allow us to continually develop our environmental programme.”