As the countdown to Christmas begins, New Year plans are well in hand to drive 140 huge 30m long piles into the seabed at Port of Leith, where Scotland’s largest renewable energy hub will come into operation towards the end of 2023.
As part of the wider multi million pounds project, led by Graham Construction, a 125m x 28.5m quay has been designed by HBPW and is being constructed to support the wind turbine industry.
“Initially the wharf is to be dredged to minus nine chart datum with the possibility of being dredged to minus 15 chart datum in the future,” said Senior Partner, Paul Withers.
“That means that by late 2023/24 the world’s largest offshore wind installation vessels will be able to freely access Port of Leith in a way they haven’t been able to in the past,” he added, “and this new structure will be key to supporting that emerging sector.”
The quay is being built off the side of the existing eastern breakwater and has been designed to take a load of 35 tonnes per square metre (t/m2) as well as mooring for vessels carrying component parts and completed wind turbine towers. Driving of piles, each 1220mm (4ft) in diameter with a 25mm wall thickness, begins in the New Year.
“Because of the nature of the industry, components tend to be huge requiring cranes and enormous Self Propelled Motorised Transport vehicles (SPMTs) to move them, so we had to take these weight considerations into account from day one,” added Paul.
“We did some similar work at Port of Dundee where we provided designs and drawings for both the land side and marine works including: overseeing the demolition and replacement of Caledon East Wharf and construction of unmetalled hard standings capable of supporting huge crawler cranes. Without doubt, that experience has helped at Leith.”
A PLAXIS computer model of the new Leith quay was developed to ensure that the ground supporting the piles would not move with the piles. “We had to be sure we were not holding ourselves up with our own boot straps!” said Paul.
The original plan by Forth Ports was unveiled last year and will see the creation of Scotland’s largest and best located renewable energy hub on a 175-acre site – supporting Scotland’s economic recovery and energy transition plans and the achievement of the country’s net zero carbon emissions targets.
The wider facility will feature a heavy lift capability of up to 100 tonnes per square metre (t/m2), backed up by 35 acres of adjacent land for logistics and marshalling.
This will be supplemented by the upgrading of a 140-acre cargo handling site to accommodate lay down; assembly; supply chain and manufacturing opportunities. The total area is equivalent to around 100 full size football pitches.