PD Ports to overhaul Teesport breakwater
Repairs will be carried out by McLaughlin & Harvey, appointed through a SCAPE framework, to this crucial piece of infrastructure at the mouth of the Tees Estuary.
Teesport is the largest port in the North East and is important to the supply and demand for industrial property in the local area.
The project will deliver a long-term solution to strengthen the existing breakwater and improve its resilience against future extreme storm events.
The main construction works will involve strengthening the existing breakwater through the placement of significant quantities of rock armour, together with specially designed precast concrete armour units.
Seamus Devlin, managing director at McLaughlin & Harvey, explained: “We have sourced up to 20,000 tonnes of rock from Rekefjord, in Norway, for the project and will be transporting it across the North Sea to Teesport by barge. The first shipments have arrived on the Tees, marking an important milestone as construction activity gets underway in line with the programme of works.”
The project has been procured through the SCAPE Utilities Work and Services Framework, which enabled PD Ports to engage with McLaughlin & Harvey during the early stages of the scheme.
Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, said: “It is fantastic to see work get underway on this significant project, which will strengthen and safeguard the existing infrastructure of the Tees Estuary. The complexity of the project required early contractor involvement and collaboration from the outset. Through the SCAPE Utilities Works and Services framework, we worked closely with McLaughlin & Harvey and PD Ports to not only provide early contractor engagement but deliver an efficient, compliant route to market as well.”
Mark Pearson, PD Ports group projects director, said: “The South Gare breakwater is a vital piece of infrastructure for the safe and effective operations of Teesport, which in turn supports thousands of jobs and generates £1.4bn for the Teesside economy each year.
“Working with McLaughlin & Harvey through the SCAPE framework has enabled us to develop a robust solution to protect the breakwater and move efficiently into construction.
“This investment will improve the breakwater’s long-term resilience, helping to protect the estuary and the important assets it supports for years to come.”
Once complete, the strengthened breakwater will provide greater long-term resilience against storm events, helping to safeguard South Gare Lighthouse and other important assets at the entrance to the Tees Estuary.
PD Ports operates 11 locations nationwide including the largest port in Teesport and the Port of Hartlepool.
PD Ports is the Statutory Harbour Authority for the River Tees, with a jurisdiction of 12 miles to the Tees estuary and legal responsibility to ensure safe navigation for all vessels and maintenance of the river.
