The director of ports has denied claims by boat owners that marinas are being neglected by government.

Ann Reynolds was responding to comments by the Isle of Man Harbour Users’ Association which is calling for berthing fees to be waived until a solution to problem silting in Peel marina is found.

She said three methods for disposing of the potentially contaminated silt will be trialled next year which will remove 12,000 tonnes of the material from the harbour.

In a statement, she said: ’The ports division regularly meets with the Harbour Users’ Association and discusses with them many appropriate topics, including the silt issues for the impound areas of the Peel and Douglas marina.

’The silt within the impounded area of Peel has too much heavy metal content and it would be better environmentally if the silt did not get disposed of at sea.

’Equally, there is no appropriately licensed dump site on land for permanent disposal of contaminated silt material.’

She said that whilst the department is considering all options for disposal, there are three potentially sustainable options which it wishes to pursue.

’Each of these options are being considered as a trial for 2018, each using around 4,000 tonnes of silt - and viability and scope of work is ongoing regarding those options,’ she explained.

The director of ports said the request for free berthing fees will be considered and said those harbour users in Peel affected by silt build-up had received a significant reduction in fees this year.

And she added: ’I would refute the comments that the marinas are being ’neglected’ as there is a considerable amount of effort, work and time being spent on considering all the options available for the potential disposal of the contaminated material.

’This includes deliberating on what the likely development/initial costs and the long -term effects will be, some of those options being extremely expensive and requiring the relevant planning and environmental permissions.’