Chris Neeves,
Managing Director (Building Services Division)
Chris is an MLM Director and leads the Building Services and BREEAM team and is actively involved in design innovation and our overseas operations in...
Load-out Facilities for Greater Gabbard Wind Farm, Harwich International Port
- Client: Harwich International Port/ALE
- Architect: -
- Market Sector: Energy
- Services: Civil Engineering
MLM was appointed to review and assess the existing quay structures for loadings associated with storage of wind turbine components and their transfer by low-loader and craneage to ship for delivery site.
The areas of quay involved are old, with configurations of concrete and steel beams, supported by piles with a sheet piled wall at the landward side. Limited record information was available.
MLM carried out under-quay inspections and assessments, but it was not possible to determine conclusively the load capacity of the structure. The high loads proposed could not be justified at an acceptable level of risk and we recommended and undertook physical load testing using kentledge blocks and electrical monitoring of structural movements under load to confirm performance. The load testing was optimised to suit the pattern of loadings arising from the proposed transfer operations.
The logistics of moving the various components was adjusted to ensure load spread and patterns were kept within the maximum verified structural capacity, avoiding the need to strengthen the quays.
Key Features
- Assessment of existing quays.
- Physical testing.
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