Two parties have thrown their hat into the ring to manage Ventnor Harbour over the next five years.
The Isle of Wight Council is on the hunt for someone to run the harbour from April 1, 2023, as it looks to take a step back.
The authority is also considering selling off the harbour, subject to the necessary permissions.
The £485,775 contract would allow the successful operator, with the permission of the Isle of Wight Council, to make improvements to the harbour which is nearly 30 years old.
The council finished accepting bids on Tuesday (September 27).
The management term would run until the end of March 2028.
Speaking at the council’s harbour committee meeting yesterday (Wednesday), Sean Newton, strategic manager of commercial services, said the council’s management work would be outsourced.
Mr Newton said two submissions had been received from parties wishing to take on the contract but they had not started evaluating the bids yet.
That stage would be completed by October 13, he said, before a paper would go to cabinet in November setting out the options for the management company to be in place by April 1.
The supplier will be expected to manage all aspects of the harbour including — but not limited to — supervision, berthing income collection, maintenance, statutory returns and the removal of seaweed.
Seaweed removal at Ventnor Harbour currently costs the Isle of Wight Council £103,000 a year but it could be covered by the management company along with other expenditure.
As part of their submission bids, the parties can put forward financial models on how they would manage the harbour and they could devise a new methodology to dispose of the seaweed.
The council says the successful operator would benefit from the income derived from mooring fees but also may be able to implement improvements to generate additional income.
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