Boskalis Westminster, one of the most experienced dredging and marine contracting companies in the UK, has been awarded a £30 million contract from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation on behalf of the Ministry of Defence for the capital dredging of the approach channel to the port of Portsmouth.
The dredging activities are related to the deepening and widening of the 4-5 mile long approach channel to accommodate the arrival of new aircraft carriers in the port. The Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) aircraft carriers will be significantly larger than any vessel that currently uses Portsmouth Harbour. Boskalis Westminster will dredge the approach channel, inner harbour area and berth pocket, making these deep and wide enough for the new ships.
In all around 3 million cubic metres of clay, sand and gravel will be removed from the harbour over an eight month period. Dredging works are planned to start in late autumn, using trailing suction hopper dredgers and backhoe dredgers, and will be carried out to ensure the work meets stringent environmental requirements.
Medium-sized trailing suction hopper dredgers and backhoe dredgers will be deployed for the project. Customised working methods and continuous monitoring will be applied in order to meet the stringent environmental requirements.
DIO project manager Paul Simmonds said:
“This is a good example of DIO delivering for defence. DIO is delivering vital infrastructure to prepare for the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth Carriers in Portsmouth. This work helps provide the armed forces with the capabilities they need to maintain Britain’s security in an ever changing world.”
“DIO has worked closely with our Royal Navy customers to ensure this work will be carried out in the most cost effective way, taking into account the local marine environment, without impacting on the existing operations at HMNB Portsmouth.”
“Along with the £51 million jetty upgrade works we announced earlier this year, provision of high voltage power for the ships when berthed, installation of navigational aids within the channel and the design and production of QEC specific gangways, this contract forms part of a £100 million investment to transform Portsmouth Harbour into a state of the art home for HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.”
The dredging work on the channel is due to be completed by summer 2016.
Founded in 1933, Boskalis Westminster is a subsidiary of Netherlands-based Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V, one of the world’s largest dredging groups.
Together with its group subsidiaries, the firm has the capability to undertake any type of dredging and marine construction work including coastal, seabed protection, immersed tube tunnel construction, offshore services, rock and breakwater construction, environmental projects, marine drilling and blasting, port and waterway engineering and pipeline installation.
The dredging work is due to be complete by summer 2016.