Construction work on a new marina in Hamilton Harbour will bring an environmental bonus.

The $2.5 million Royal Bermuda Yacht Club development is underway and will add around 100 new moorings to the 25 already at the club.

When the project is finished next spring, club officials believe the moorings that disappear from the waters of Bermuda will remove a hazard to marine life.

RBYC Rear Commodore Les Crane said mooring chains and anchors scraping along the bottom created a void in which nothing could live or grow.

"From an environmental point of view, each mooring swings around and the chain scrapes the bottom, but this reduces the demand for moorings and a much more confined area should reduce the effect on the bottom.'' The new marina, which is nearly fully subscribed, will also give most vessels a hurricane-proof harbour which insurers will be able to cover.

"If you know you can leave your boat in a marina during a hurricane -- that is a big plus.'' At present workers are concentrating on sinking pilings into the water close to Tee Rock.

"It gives our members the chance to keep their boats at the club, which has always been our goal,'' said Mr. Crane.

"It should create a quiet anchorage and, because it is open, will still allow the flushing of water so you do not get stagnant water, which is good from a fish point of view.''