MARINE CIVILS
EAST RHYL COASTAL DEFENCE SCHEME Work on a major flood defence scheme along the North Wales coastline in Rhyl is scheduled to start in October with the aim of providing protection for 1,650 properties writes Dag Pike The East Rhyl Coastal Defence Scheme is estimated to cost around £27 million and will be funded through the Welsh Government, combined with part funding by Denbighshire County Council. Work started on site in April to create access points and is on target to be completed by December 2022. The scheme will see the main contractor, Balfour Beatty, work to place 128,000 tonnes of rock armour in front of the existing sea defences at East Rhyl. In addition, the contractor will construct 600 metres of new sea defence wall and promenade. These defences will help protect the area not only from current storms but also from the anticipated impact of climate change which could see sea levels rise and also an increase the frequency of storms.
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Work is progressing well and the preliminary works will have been completed on forming the first of three permanent beach access points. Contractor Balfour Beatty has been able carry on with the work as planned, whilst fully adhering to the Welsh Government’s Coronavirus regulations and guidance, since work started in April The material which includes large rocks is in the process of being delivered to the site and this will enable the construction of the rock armour revetment, which is scheduled to commence in October. The revetment is expected to take around eight months to build.
Cllr Brian Jones, the Council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “Work is progressing well and the preliminary works will have been completed on forming the first of three permanent beach access points. “Contractor Balfour Beatty has been able carry on with the work as planned, whilst fully adhering to the Welsh Government’s Coronavirus regulations and guidance, since work started in April.” A site haul road has been created using the existing promenade between East Parade and Splash Point and a temporary stone track between Splash Point and the Garford Road car park. A stone ramp has been formed at Splash Point to allow access to the beach for the heavy machinery that will be required to carry out the work while a visitor centre has been set up at the site compound and members of the public are welcome to drop by to discuss the scheme with the public liaison officer.
8 Balfour Beatty will place 128,000 tonnes of rock armour in front of the existing sea defences
McLachlan adds 19 metre multicat Scottish workboat operator McLachlan Marine has added a 19-metre Multicat to its flotilla of workboats in order to widen the capabilities of it increasing fleet. The Ocean Supporter marks a new departure for this active company and the versatile capability of the Multicat will open up new opportunities in the renewables and marine construction sectors. Previously the activities of the company’s boats were mainly focused on crew transfers and safety boats but the Multicat is equipped to play an active part on marine construction work as well as cargo transfers.
8 The Ocean Supporter marks a new departure for this active company
Claimed to be the only vessel of its type in the area, Ocean Supporter is coded by the MCA as Cat 2 for operations up to 60 miles from its base. The open deck of the catamaran can carry up to 40 tonnes of
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cargo on deck and it has already used this capability to transfer cargoes to vessels at anchor off Aberdeen and those employed on the expansion project of Aberdeen Harbour. The Ocean Supporter is equipped two Furakara 500 hydraulic deck cranes at the bow which have extending booms and a further Iron Fist crane can lift 3000kg at 3.4 metres. These cranes are capable of handling lifting operations over the bow such as moorings and pipelines.
SEPTEMBER 2020 | 15
