Grimsby Fish Docks have been under the keen eye of HBPW Associate Engineer, Paul Jacklin, after he was asked by Associated British Ports (ABP) to carry out his first ever inspection of the facility’s suspended North Quay wall.
“The quay, which supports the wharf and a roadway, was constructed in the 1930’s and is made of reinforced concrete but, like any structure, is subject to salt attack.
“This job is part of a wider inspection programme designed to monitor deterioration so that remedial repair and replacement work can be carried out wherever necessary. I have already submitted my quay wall report and ABP will be addressing any recommendations I have made in due course.”
Over and above Grimsby’s North Quay, Paul has also begun his annual inspection of Associated British Ports’ wider bridges and structures across Humberside.
As part of the annual inspection programme some 37 bridge and culvert structures at the Ports of Grimsby, Immingham, Hull and Goole, have to be examined each year.
And that involves Paul visiting each of the steel, brick, concrete and wooden structures to ensure that they have not fallen victim to major deterioration as a result of weather, general use or spalling when brick and concrete surfaces fall away.
“It is a considerable task,” said Paul, “and, overall, probably takes me a full month to complete. Sometimes I’m in a car but, more often than not, I’m in a boat under a jetty or pounding the shoe leather along stretches of quayside!
“However, as a result of ABP’s vigilance, problems can be spotted early and are dealt with as part of their ongoing repair and replacement policy.”