Queen Elizabeth Carriers – DIO awards contract to dredge Portsmouth Harbour
DIO has awarded the £31 million contract to dredge Portsmouth Harbour to Boskalis Westminster.
The Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers will be significantly larger than any vessel that currently uses Portsmouth Harbour. Boskalis Westminster will dredge the approach channel, inner harbour area and berth pocket, making these deep and wide enough for the new ships.
In all around 3 million cubic metres of clay, sand and gravel will be removed from the harbour. Dredging works are planned to start in late autumn, using trailing suction hopper dredgers and backhoe dredgers, and will be carried out to ensure the work meets stringent environmental requirements.
The dredging work is due to be complete by summer 2016.
DIO project manager Paul Simmonds said:
“This is a good example of DIO delivering for Defence. DIO is delivering vital infrastructure to prepare for the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth Carriers in Portsmouth. This work helps provide the Armed Forces with the capabilities they need to maintain Britain’s security in an ever-changing world.
“DIO has worked closely with our Royal Navy customers to ensure this work will be carried out in the most cost-effective way, taking into account the local marine environment, without impacting on the existing operations at HMNB Portsmouth.
“Along with the £51 million jetty upgrade works we announced earlier this year, provision of high-voltage power for the ships when berthed, installation of navigational aids within the channel and the design and production of QEC-specific gangways, this contract forms part of a £100 million investment to transform Portsmouth Harbour into a state-of-the-art home for HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.”
Further information:
Press enquiries to Steve Roberts-Mee, Communications Officer 0121 311 3678 or email steven.roberts-mee100@mod.uk
DIO website: www.gov.uk/dio
Twitter: @mod_dio
Read DIO’s blog: https://insidedio.blog.gov.uk/
Notes to Editors
1) The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) plays a vital role in supporting our Armed Forces by building, maintaining and servicing what the men and women who serve our country need to live, work, train and deploy on operations.
2) DIO is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties, as well as providing related support services, to meet the current and future needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.
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