Spencer Group celebrated a major milestone on its North End Shipyard project last week after the iconic Arctic Corsair made its final voyage on Friday to be dry berthed at its new home in Hull’s city centre.
The Hull-based engineering firm has been working hard to deliver critical marine and civil engineering works at the shipyard, preparing the site and infrastructure ahead of the vessel’s arrival.
Spencer Group was appointed by Hull Esteem Consortium LEP on behalf of Hull City Council, to design and install a new 15-metre by 6-metre, 50 tonne dock gate to replace the existing structure. The new gate will help provide a secure, permanent home for the vessel, which is set to become a major tourist attraction for the city.
The Arctic Corsair is the UK’s last surviving sidewinder trawler and one of Hull’s most significant fishing vessels known for achieving one of the highest single-day catches recorded in history.
The vessel successfully made its final journey to its new permanent home on Friday, and works are now underway to secure the brand-new gate, marking a key milestone on the project for all involved.
The move required careful coordination around tidal patterns, weather forecasts, river conditions, bridge operations and navigational safety. This planning was essential to ensure the vessel’s final journey could go ahead safely and without delaying the wider programme.
The successful move was the result of extensive planning and close collaboration between all project partners, including Dunston Ship Repairs Ltd, Beckett Rankine, Humber Work Boats Ltd, Siltbuster Ltd, Hull Esteem Consortium and Hull Maritime. Each played a vital role in preparing the dock and ensuring it was ready for the vessel’s arrival.
As a company founded in Hull and which operates from its HQ at the Hull Marina, Spencer Group has almost four decades of experience working across the region’s ports and marine environment and has actively contributed to the preservation of the city’s rich maritime history.
Having successfully delivered a new berth for the iconic Spurn Lightship in 2024, Spencer Group was proud to have been appointed to work on another project as part of the Hull Maritime Programme.
Since its founding in 1989, the company has been rooted in the local community, bringing both local knowledge and meaningful connections to projects like this one that will play an important cultural role in the city for generations to come.
Dan Thompson, Project Manager at Spencer Building & Civils, said:
“Seeing the Arctic Corsair make the final journey to her new home was a hugely rewarding experience for everyone involved in the project, and it was great to see so many members of the public come out to witness this significant moment in the city’s history.”
“A substantial amount of planning and coordination took place behind the scenes to ensure the move could be completed safely and successfully. We were extremely pleased to see everything go so smoothly.”
“As a Hull-based business, we are extremely proud to have played a role in preserving such an important piece of the city’s maritime history and we can’t wait to see the finished outcome.”
