Management
Turning the Tide: Restoring
Whitehaven Harbour
About the client
Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners (WHC) is an independent statutory body responsible for managing and maintaining Whitehaven Harbour in Cumbria. Established in 1722, WHC has a long history of overseeing the safe operation, development, and promotion of the harbour as a working port and community asset.
The harbour serves a diverse range of users, including commercial operators, the fishing industry, leisure craft, and tourism activities. WHC works to balance these interests while protecting the harbour’s historic character and ensuring compliance with maritime regulations.
In addition to day-to-day operations, WHC plays a key role in driving regeneration and economic development in the area, working with partners to enhance facilities, attract visitors, and support the local economy.
📍 West Cumbria
💼 Maritime
⚙️ Management
Co-Lab supported Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners through a Sellafield Ltd Social Impact initiative, analysing options to address the issue of iron ochre entering the harbour through a culvert and causing an orange discolouration. In collaboration with Resolve Engineered Solutions, they developed several options and identified effective solutions, building a case-for-change that included an economic analysis of the impact on the tourist and visitor economy, as well as feasibility studies ranging from off-the-shelf, quickly deployable options to bespoke solutions that integrate with the harbour’s aesthetic.
Our experience with Co-Lab was excellent, the team displayed the highest level of professionalism throughout and helped us to navigate some complicated technicalities. We highly recommend them for engineering-based facilitation and technical consultancy in any industry or sector.
- Deanne Shallcross, Chief Executive Officer, Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners
Challenge
Addressing Mine Water Pollution Impacting Whitehaven Harbour
Since November 2022, Whitehaven Harbour has faced a significant environmental challenge, with severe water discolouration suspected to be the result of mine water pollution entering the harbour through a culvert. Elevated levels of iron and manganese have given the water a striking orange-brown colour, creating both ecological and economic impacts.
The high mineral concentrations pose a threat to marine life, disrupt the harbour’s natural balance, and risk longer-term environmental degradation if left unresolved. At the same time, the visual impact of the discolouration has deterred tourists and leisure users, leading to a 40% drop in marina traffic. This decline in activity has affected local businesses, reduced harbour income, and undermined the area’s appeal as a visitor destination.
The situation demanded a rapid but carefully considered response, balancing the urgency of mitigating the environmental harm with the need for solutions that were technically feasible, cost-effective, and sympathetic to the harbour’s historic setting.
Solution
Implementing Short-Term Water Treatment Solutions
Co-Lab facilitated a comprehensive process, working in partnership with Resolve Engineered Solutions, to address the water discolouration at Whitehaven Harbour. The work began with the creation of a case for change, quantifying the environmental, economic, and reputational impacts of the pollution. This analysis captured the decline in marina traffic, potential losses to the visitor economy, and long-term risks to marine life and harbour operations.
Building on this evidence base, Co-Lab guided the generation and exploration of a range of engineering solutions suitable for deployment in the harbour. Each option was assessed through a multi-criteria decision analysis framework, weighing technical performance, speed of deployment, cost, environmental benefit, and compatibility with the harbour’s heritage setting.
From this process, three short-term interventions emerged as the most viable:
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Passive Vertical Flow Reactor (VFR): A low-maintenance gravel filtration system for passive iron and sediment removal.
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Active VFR with SiltBuster technology: A pumped and actively managed system delivering higher removal efficiency, particularly in high-flow conditions.
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SpinChem: A rotating filtration unit offering rapid deployment and high capture rates in a compact design.
Co-Lab then developed a detailed implementation plan, including recommendations on the most appropriate legal vehicle for project delivery and the multi-discipline, multi-agency coordination required to bring it to life. This plan outlined clear roles for harbour management, local authorities, environmental regulators, engineering contractors, and funding bodies, ensuring alignment from concept through to implementation.
These measures provide a cost-effective, rapidly deployable way to improve water quality while a permanent treatment solution is designed and approved.
Process
Collaborative Optioneering and Strategic Planning for Long-Term Treatment
Facilitated by Co-Lab with Resolve Engineered Solutions, the sprint team ran a detailed optioneering study, engaging stakeholders and applying multi-criteria evaluation to identify technically feasible, cost-effective, and deployable solutions.
Three short-term options were selected – Passive Vertical Flow Reactor, Active VFR with SiltBuster, and SpinChem, with next steps including a public briefing, small-scale testing, securing funding, and deployment.
In parallel, a long-term strategy was defined for a cascade water treatment facility to permanently prevent mine water contamination, supported by recommendations on the right legal structure and the multi-agency collaboration needed for delivery.
Benefits
Environmental, Economic, and Community Impact
Environmental Insight – Provided a clear understanding of how iron and manganese levels are affecting water quality and marine life, creating a shared evidence base for action.
Economic Outlook – Highlighted the potential for reversing the decline in marina visitors and supporting local businesses, tourism, and harbour revenue once improvements are made.
Community Confidence – Built alignment among stakeholders and helped address misconceptions about water quality, laying the groundwork for restoring Whitehaven’s reputation as a visitor destination.
