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Structural and Ground Investigation Works for Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth
ESG, a SOCOTEC company and the UK’s leading provider of testing, inspection and compliance services, has carried out an eighteen month contract with VolkerStevin and VolkerLaser in support of the new Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) aircraft carrier berth construction.
Elements of the existing Princess Royal Jetty at Her Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Portsmouth date back 90 years and required extensive updating and repair ahead of the QEC carrier’s arrival on 16th August 2017.
In August 2015 the Principal Contractor of the infrastructure project, VolkerStevin, and their specialist subcontractor, VolkerLaser, awarded ESG a package of investigation and testing works including; onshore ground investigation, structural investigation of the concrete decks and steel pile foundations, geotechnical and environmental soil testing and in situ materials testing.
Since commencing the works, ESG’s structural investigation team has tested over 7,000m2 of concrete deck and inspected 150 tubular steel piles. Following ESG’s testing and inspection services, the client has installed an ‘Impressed Current Cathodic Protection’ (ICCP) system to protect the embedded concrete reinforcement, from further corrosion.
Dave Partridge, Operations Manager, Structural Investigations, ESG, commented: “The restructure of Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth is a huge project – and a great opportunity for ESG to demonstrate all of our investigation and testing capabilities. We liaised closely with the client at the early stages of the works, to ensure all the needs of the project were being met. With our expertise in marine infrastructure projects, we were able to meet the client’s requirements to significantly enhance this historic port to accommodate the biggest ships ever built by the Royal Navy.”
Further to these works, a recent phase of ongoing overwater ground investigation and structural investigation began in August 2017. ESG’s committed team are continuing to deliver marine investigation services as part of the Victory Jetty Upgrade, meeting the client’s programme and budget.
