HBPW has been playing its part in the construction of mooring dolphins off the coastline of a research and engineering zone in eastern Scotland.
Energy Park Fife encompasses a 55-hectare site, including Methil Docks and Methil Docks Business Park and Low Carbon Investment Park.
Main contractor, Graham Construction, enlisted Murform to construct two marine dolphin structures – isolated structures that extend above the surface of the water to provide a mooring facility for vessels.
However, before Murform could complete the job in hand, HBPW had to deliver vital engineering design work.
Managing Partner, Paul Withers, said: “Graham’s asked us to design and detail precast concrete permanent soffit formwork to facilitate production of reinforced concrete caps on top of the 1500mm diameter piles driven into the sea bed.
“Each of the piles – six in total, three for each of the dolphins – featured steel yolks at the top of the piles to give the precast structure temporary support during casting of insitu concrete infill and, subsequently, provided support to fenders in the permanent works conditions.”
Paul said that the precast structure, incorporating both soffit and wall formwork, had been given the nickname ‘bathtub’ because of its huge, lumbering shape.
“To some extent HBPW was at the pen and paper end of a very complicated job involving lifting equipment and the associated problems of working offshore. However, thanks to our contribution, which also included design of the anchors and steelwork frame to facilitate lifting of the so-called ‘bathtub’, I am pleased to say that the job was completed to the satisfaction of all parties.”