The completed dredging campaign will not only allow construction of the UK’s first ever offshore wind turbine manufacturing, assembly, installation and service facility, it will also allow deeper-drafted vessels to call at ports along the Humber Estuary.
Simon Brett, ABP Head of Projects Humber, said: “This transformative project is already delivering real, tangible benefits to the city and the wider region. We’ve already created jobs and many more will follow.”
Dredger Eke Möbius pumped one million cubic metres of material from the Estuary into the dock to infill one third of the water area during the project.
ABP’s project team and engineers working for main contractor the GRAHAM Lagan Construction Group Joint Venture (JV) have also stored sand for use during the seven-hectare reclaim for the new quay.
The reclaimed area will be used to store wind turbine components prior to loading onto installation vessels.
In spring 2016, the dredging of the new berth pockets will begin alongside marine piling for the new quay wall, which will feature berths for three windfarm installation vessels.
Construction will also begin on a 60m east lead-in jetty to enable works on the 25,000-square metre site of Siemens’ offshore service building.