Interesting fact...
Portland first became a useable port when the Royal Engineers, using brass helmeted divers and convict labour in the mid 1800’s, started construction of the outer breakwaters w
hich still stand today. At the time, this was the UK Government’s largest project, and the function of the structures was to protect our shipping from the French. The central breakwater was added later to minimise the risk of anchored ships being torpedoed by enemy shipping, this time German. Now they just keep out the waves because we have made friends with everyone.
The Osprey Quay site never really existed at all. At one stage t
here was the natural phenominum of the Chesil Bank linking the Isle of Portland to the mainland, with access being by small boat at Ferrybridge. Then the railway came along, and they formed the bridge and causeway we now drive over, and they also had a major railway yard (not much smaller than Clapham) at Fortuneswell. The railway system then wrapped around the entirety of Portland to service the many quarries, some of which still exist.
The railway pulled out, and the Navy took over the Port, 
reclaiming marshland as they went, forming what is now Osprey Quay. There was a major fuelling depot on the site, together with the Navy’s helicopter base, both of which serviced the Naval Base here.
When the Navy left, the local community was dispirited, thinking that employment losses would be devastating, but it adjusted to cope, and with the help of the Regional Development Agency, the massive site was chopped up into smaller more manageable chunks.
Enter Dean and Reddyhoff to build the marina part of the development, and with the end goal of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, we have embarked on our most ambitious scheme to date. Further reclamation of two acres preceded the construction of the four main buildings, and the 800 metres of tipped stone breakwater unlocked the site for use as a marina. Fuel berths, hoist docks, stuff like that all followed. We were advised on all engineering, architectural and environmental matters by Atkins.
The scheme is almost complete, with the last set of pontoons to go in once the business has had chance to mature a bit. We also have a large shed to erect to house small craft in a rack at some stage.
The Olympic boys like us because we were the first UK Venue to be completed for the 2012 Games,
And the Crown (who own the seabed under the pontoons) think we’re OK as well – they awarded us their prestigious Marine Business Award in 2009. 