Ipswich-based marine engineers have played a key role in a big upgrade at the Port of Lowestoft.
Engineers at Red7Marine have built and installed piles to underpin a major new upgraded quayside area at the Port of Lowestoft.
Port owner Associated British Ports (ABP) is creating the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF) for vessels supporting East Anglia's offshore energy industry at the port 's Outer Harbour.
In 2022, ABP appointed McLaughlin & Harvey to design and build the facility.
The aim is to provide a base in Lowestoft to meet the offshore energy industry’s current and future demands and ensure the port could accommodate the next generation of offshore support vessels - including operations and maintenance.
The Red7Marine team - which fabricated the piling at its Cliff Quay workshop at the Port of Ipswich - was responsible for the main quay wall piling.
The works involved installing 132 tubular piles and 137 sheet piles along the length of the quayside.
Prior to starting the works its Haven SeaStabler - which has a 38t long reach - completed a proof dig.
The company's engineers have been involved in a series of projects attached to the upgrade - including designing temporary works, and modifying one of the existing piling gates.
The extension to the gate provided an extra 2m in height and 6m in length and can accommodate three tubular piles at a time.
Red7Marine boss Kristen Branford said: “We are delighted to have finished the quay wall piling operations as a part of ABP’s Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility project.
"Working close to home on this important investment for the region which will mean the port, and therefore the town, will be able to continue to grow as a thriving centre for supporting the offshore energy industry.”
David Baskin, senior contracts manager at McLaughlin & Harvey praised the team for its professionalism and the high standard of its work.
When complete, the project will provide berthing space for simultaneous use by three service operations vessels and deliver up to eight acres of flexible storage and marshalling area.
Around 5,000sq ft of new office space with direct quayside access will also be created.
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