Northbay Port Users Association (NPUA)

Northbay Port Users Association was set up in 2005 to address the issue of port facilities at the north end of Barra.  NPUA is a community based organisation which has representatives from the full range of marine activities making us of facilites in the area.  These include fishing, angling/sight seeing, kayaking and community users.

The are a number of issues which the group aims to address.  While there is a pier in Northbay at Ardveenish it is primarily a fisheries facility and does not provide safe berthing for all vessels in all weathers.  This issue was brought into focus when in the severe storms early in 2005 several boats were severely damaged on account of there being no appropriate sheltered berthing available. There is no slip in Northbay which can be accessed at all stages of the tide and which can be used as a means of launching, retrieving or maintianing vessels.  Facilities for tourism, leisure and commnity users are very limited indeed, a situation which is viewed as being restrictive to development of these sectors.

NPUA aim to improve port facilities in the Northbay area.  The first project being tackled is the inner harbour.  A three phase plan has been developed to (i) increase the berthing area by creating a new berthing wall. (ii) To build a 6m wide slip to improve shore access (iii) Extend the existing pier to further improve shelter and increase berthing.

At present funding of £139,000 for phases I & II is being sought.