French Island (Tankerton Boat Ramp)

French Island (Tankerton Boat Ramp): Located on the southwestern coast of French Island adjacent to the Tankerton Jetty, this facility provides the primary public maritime landing on the island. It features a single-lane ramp reconstructed in 2025 using an innovative design consisting of durable articulated concrete mats fixed to the seabed to reduce long-term maintenance costs, allow wave action to clear sand and seagrass naturally, and facilitate modular section repairs. Staging is limited to the adjacent Tankerton Jetty, which features lower-level landings on its western and southern sides. However, vessels must be attended and cannot be left unattended at the jetty. Localized environmental hazards are severe; the site is highly exposed to high-energy coastal conditions, storm damage, a flat gradient requiring high tides, rapid tidal currents, and shallow channel mudflats.