PROJECT
SUMMARY
This project was for the reconstruction of the secondary roll-on/roll-off berth for Wester Ferries’ busy Gourock to Dunoon car ferry service on the Firth of Clyde. The reconstructed facility complements the main berth which was constructed by George Leslie Ltd in 2007, and provides added resilience to this busy route to the Cowal peninsular.
PROJECT DETAIL
The work involved dismantling and removing the existing link-span arrangement which included the extraction, removal and demolition of the existing steel and timber piles, steel bracing and H beams of the original berthing face.
New construction comprised reinforced concrete bankseat and yoke dolphin both supported on raking tubular piles with rock anchors and a new mono-piled berthing face. The offshore work was undertaken by a barge-mounted 100t crawler crane supported by land-based 70t crane and large excavator which also carried out the landside bank-seat construction work.
Pontoons were used to float out the old link-span and to install the new structure under rising and falling tidal conditions, respectively.
Cathodic protection, handrailing, realignment of the marshalling area, pedestrian walkways and approach roads, a replacement bus shelter and compressor housing, together with new gates, fencing and signage completed the new works.
A close and cooperative working relationship with Wester Ferries operational personnel ensured the busy ferry schedule was maintained throughout the work without disruption.
