Civil Engineering specialist Spencer Group has successfully completed 12,000m² of paving for Associated British Ports (ABP). Spencer completed the time critical works on-time at the end of August.
Works began on this vast area, which is located on King George Dock, Hull, in May and is already being used for the storage of timber by Global Shipping, a break-bulk cargo operator in the Humber Ports. Other works completed by Spencer was the installation of new drainage, kerbing and 3no 25m high mast lights.
Spencer will remain on site while they finish ducting works at the opposite end. This ducting will carry cables from one of Spencer’s other projects at ABP, (Kingeo Relocation project, which is the build of a brand-new substation) under the site of the paving, connecting to a plant room within ABP’s Shed Six, where the power generated will be distributed throughout the rest of the port.
Simon Rotherforth, Project Manager with Spencer Group said: “The project was to pave a huge area of land for the storage of imported timber. As well as the paving, we have built all of the drainage for the area and installed underground ducting – which contain cables that will connect to the substation at our Kingeo site and play their part in powering the whole port. The weather was not always on our side and when it came to concreting the swale ditch, we had to fill 24m3 at a time and cover it using timber and plastic sheeting to protect it from the rain. The team were fantastic though and did a great, efficient job, completing everything to the high standards that were expected.”
Spencer, who last year completed the design and build of a Rail Loading of Biomass Storage Facility on Queen Elizabeth Dock, have recently been awarded another contract by ABP to replace the existing crane rails at their Hull Container Terminal.
Jamie Hartley, Spencer Group Construction Apprentice said: “This has been the first full job I have been involved with since joining Spencer Group and I’ve gained some great experience and invaluable knowledge of how projects should be run.”
When asked what he enjoyed the most, Mr Hartley replied: “I have worked in various different departments within Spencer and in each one, the people have been really accommodating and, I feel, are the reason I have progressed so much in just over the year. The project team here have been no different. I would like to thank Simon and Derek Barr (Project Director) for giving me the opportunity to work on this site.”
The full project team were:
- • Derek Barr, Project Director
- • Simon Rotherforth, Construction Manager
- • Gary Shuttleworth, Project Manager
- • Keith Brown, Construction Manager
- • Martin Papworth, Foreman
- • Andy Wilson, Foreman
ABP is working with Siemens on the £310m Green Port Hull development, which includes a wind turbine blade manufacturing facility. In addition to the blade manufacturing facility, a recently announced Cruise Terminal and Riverside Berth have been confirmed which could boost Hull’s economy by £13m a year.
