PORTLAND PORT MOORING CAPACITY TO BE EXTENDED

A maritime engineering company has been selected to work on a major infrastructure project designed to extend the mooring capacity of Queen’s Pier by 40m at Portland Port in Dorset, UK.

Portland Port-based Intermarine UK, acting as a subcontractor for project lead CMP Thames Ltd, will fabricate multiple steel structures that will form part of a new mooring dolphin at the end of the pier that will create a facility for berthing vessels up to 230m long with drafts up to 10.5m.

35t carousel

Mark Bowden, Intermarine UK production manager, said the company has fabricated a 35t carousel for the mooring dolphin.

“A steel pile has been driven into the seabed and we’ve created a pipework carousel, a steel frame, that sits on top,” he said. “Six other piles will be driven through this frame before pre-cast concrete sections and a concrete base are added by CMP Thames to complete the mooring platform.

“In addition, we’ve completed a 40-metre walkway that connects to the existing extension so you can walk out to the dolphin and take in ropes from a ship when it berths. The final stage will see us fabricate two steel fenders for either side of the dolphin. These will hold large rubber fenders that ships can rest against.”

The steel carousel was built in two sections so it could be moved out of the workshop on a low-loader trailer before assembly.

Mr Bowden said the walkway is now ready to be painted and installed, while the platform’s fenders are due to be completed soon