Boxing the compass -or- third time lucky
When SS Robin returned to London on board the spanking new pontoon she was moored in a temporary position in front of the Millenium Mills building in the Royal Docks. Then started a saga.
The Royals Significant time, money and effort was expended in pursuing a permanent position close to the Christal Building. Unfortunately the long term future water strategy is still under consideration and Robin has had to move from the Royals.
East Inda Dock Basin In parallel with the work in the Royals the SS Robin trust entered into a heads of terms with the Lea Valley Park Authority to put the Robin ashore on a site alongside the lock into the East India Dock Basin. This would have returned the ship to within a hundred metres of where she was built. Despite gaining planning permission and solving all the engineering questions the LVPA at short notice withdrew its support.
Trinity Buoy Wharf is only 220m down river from the slip where Robin was built. TBW has various advantages being open to the public and already has a group of heritage vessels. Permission was granted by the Port of London Authority for the SS Robin trust to drive two piles to provide secure mooring at the mouth of the Lea.
These piles are over 20m long and weigh over 17tons each
