Recently, two Spencer Group representatives, alongside Managing Director, Gary Thornton attended a press call at one of its project sites, the North End Shipyard in Hull, which is due to become the new home for the city’s iconic fishing vessel, the Arctic Corsair.
The Hull-based engineering firm is currently delivering critical marine and civil engineering works to help preserve one of Hull’s most historically significant fishing vessels on behalf of Hull Esteem Consortium LEP.
The project forms a key part of Hull City Council’s £70 million Hull Maritime Programme, which will protect and preserve the city’s rich maritime history.
Spencer Group has been appointed to design and install a new 15-metre by 6 metre, 50 tonne dock gate to replace the existing structure, which has deteriorated over time. Once the gate has been installed and sealed behind a reinforced concrete block, the new gate will help transform the disused dock into a dedicated heritage berth for the vessel.
To facilitate the above works and move the vessel into its new home at North End Shipyard, dredging operations must first be carried out to provide localised working areas for marine equipment. Furthermore, as the Arctic Corsair is longer than the width of this section of the river, navigational dredging will ensure it can enter the dock safely and without disruption.
To mark the exciting project milestone, a press call was held at North End Shipyard, bringing together key figures involved in the project, including Spencer Group Managing Director Gary Thornton, Hull City Council Programme Director Gillian Osgerby and Hull City Council Leader Cllr Mike Ross.
The press call marked the start of the dredging phase, during which 3,500m³ of silt will be pumped from the river into a neighbouring holding dock and filtered to remove contaminants before clean water is then returned to the river.
Local media outlets, including BBC Look North and ITV Calendar, attended the press call and interviewed key members of the project team, who shared updates on the project and the start of the dredging operations.
The press call offered a valuable opportunity for the project team to share the progress on a landmark development that will bring lasting benefits to the city. This new visitor attraction will offer residents and visitors a unique opportunity to explore Hull’s rich maritime heritage.
Founded in Hull in 1989, Spencer Group has delivered a number of significant engineering and construction projects across the city and continues to play an important role in preserving the iconic landmarks that have shaped Hull’s cultural heritage. With extensive experience in marine engineering, port infrastructure and complex heavy-lift operations, the company has successfully delivered projects in challenging waterfront and maritime environments, helping to safeguard and enhance Hull’s rich maritime legacy for future generations.
Spencer Group has worked closely with its project partners throughout the programme, including Dunston (Ship Repairs Ltd), Beckett Rankine, Humber Work Boats Limited and Siltbuster Ltd in order to ensure that works are delivered to technical, environmental and heritage-sensitive standards.
Dan Thompson, Project Manager at Spencer Group, said:
“Projects of such cultural and historical significance do not come along often; as someone born and raised in Hull, it is a privilege for me and the wider project team to play a part in preserving such an important piece of the city’s maritime heritage.”
“Now that works have commenced, our focus is firmly on delivering the project safely, efficiently and to the highest standards. Significant planning has already been undertaken to coordinate the complex marine, engineering and planning requirements associated with the project. As the project progresses, we will continue to work closely with Hull Esteem, Hull City Council and Project Partners to carefully manage each phase of the programme, ensuring the project’s success.”
Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said:
“This is a technically complex and vital operation that effectively clears the path for the Arctic Corsair’s final journey.”
“By clearing the riverbed and preparing the dock, we are ensuring that when the tides are right this summer, we can bring this piece of Hull’s history home safely. It is a huge logistical challenge, but one that takes us a massive step closer to opening this world-class visitor attraction.”
