VolkerStevin Marine lands £18m naval job

VolkerStevin Marine has been awarded an £18m contract by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to design and build a specialist marine facility in Portsmouth.

The facility will used to load ammunition onto hi-tech Royal Navy warships – providing docking and loading facilities for Type 45 frigates.

VolkerStevin Marine is currently in the design phase of the project, which consists of two mooring dolphins, two small vessel pontoons and a 15m by 85m jetty.

The facility will be built within Portsmouth’s Upper Harbour area. Works on site are scheduled to begin in August 2011 and with completion earmarked for the summer of 2012.  

VolkerStevin Marine project manager Gerrit Smit said: “We are currently working alongside the MoD operational teams on the detailed design of the facility. 

“We are adapting our construction methods, plant selection and material logistics to take account of the sensitive nature of the environment we are building in.

“As the facility has no land connection, everything will be taken to site by ship; with this in mind we are maximising the use of pre-fabrication and pre-cast methods of construction to minimise the movements required. 

“Piling activity will be complete before the over winter bird period begins in November.”