On 4th September, Geomarine [UK] started an exciting project for Associated British Ports (ABP) Southampton to upgrade three of their car transported ship berths. The project, which has a value of £770,000, will be delivered in just 12 weeks, involves strengthening of the existing berth structure and design, fabrication and installation of new fenders and storm bollards.
Before work can start on the suspended deck jetty strengthening, Geomarine must first remove 13 existing driven pile fenders, each in excess of 20m long and weighing 15 tonnes. This will be done using a 280 tonne crawler crane equipped with a 6 tonne suspended vibratory piling hammer. The subsequent jetty strengthening involves encapsulation of the existing jetty piles with a 350mm thick reinforced cast-in-situ concrete jacket at 11 pile positions ready to accept few fenders.
The new fenders, which have been designed by Geomarine, will be a twin Super-cone system with berthing face panel suitable for the car transporter ships using the berth. The three new bollards will each be installed on a new reinforced concrete base, each containing 520 tonnes of reinforced concrete.
Winning this project has been a significant step forward for Geomarine UK. It give us the opportunity to show our technical expertise and it is for a major private, local and national marine infrastructure owner. The project has also been won from a tender shortlist including very experienced and well established local companies, showing that Geomarine UK have won the confidence of this very important Client.