Replacing ageing quay wall fenders under tight downtime constraints, our team delivered a resilient solution ensuring decades of safe ferry berthing.
Replacing ageing quay wall fenders under tight downtime constraints, our team delivered a resilient solution ensuring decades of safe ferry berthing.
Client: Wightlink Ferries
Value: £1.2m
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Contractor: M-Tec Southern Solutions
Wightlink’s Gunwharf ferry terminal in Portsmouth, serving the vital Portsmouth–Fishbourne route, required replacement of seven fenders as their existing units, installed in the 1970s, were inadequate for modern craft and rising sea levels. With the port operating continuously and only a one-week closure window permitted, the project demanded meticulous planning, marine inspection, and responsive engineering.
Our marine team led a pre-contract inspection to assess corrosion levels above the waterline and flag potential risks (e.g. degraded bolts). We performed berthing energy calculations based on vessel size, speed, and approach angles, specifying appropriate elastomeric units to absorb impact forces. We anticipated complications and devised contingency details. The new steel piles were fabricated by M-Tec Southern Solutions, a trusted contractor in marine settings, and installed by specialist marine teams. Despite the tight schedule, the works were completed in just five days—two days ahead of the allowed closure window.
The new fender system restores full berthing capacity with design life of 50 years for piles; elastomeric units will be replaced periodically. The successful fast-track delivery underscored AWA’s strength in marine inspection, design, and coordination under operational constraints. The project demonstrates our ability to safeguard core infrastructure in demanding marine environments while respecting tight operational windows.
AWA Consulting Engineers is a structural, civil, and marine engineering consultancy established in 1987, with a hard-won but deserved reputation for delivering excellence in our profession.
Our philosophy is simple: we put people first. This has resulted in a high number of repeat clients and an impressive track record of successful award-winning projects. We are proud to be professional, and approachable; we believe this makes us the ideal partner for your project.
AWA has technical teams in our offices located in Romsey, Hampshire and Bath, Somerset. We deliver services to clients typically across the South, South East and South West.
Our team includes both chartered structural engineers and chartered civil engineers committed to continuous professional development ensuring you benefit from up to date industry expertise, whatever your project entails.
To find out more about how AWA Consulting Engineers can help with your project, get in touch today. Email mail@awaengineers.com and one of the team will be in touch. Alternatively, call 01794 524447 to speak to a member of our team.
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