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Port engineers gather for £350m harbour construction

UK senior port engineers met in Aberdeen this week to hear from experts on how the planning, design and construction of the Harbour’s ambitious £350m expansion have materialised

Senior Port engineers from across the UK met in Aberdeen this week to hear from experts in planning, design and construction about how the Harbour’s ambitious £350m expansion has materialised.

Members of the British Ports Association and the UK Major Ports Group’s joint Port Infrastructure Group saw progress on construction of the north breakwater, a temporary Accropode Production Facility and the new visitor centre.

Dredging commenced in September, designed to increase the water depth within the bay ahead of the construction of quays over the next three years. After touring the construction site and existing harbour, the group heard more details about the design and specifications as well as some of the lessons learned during the process.

The expansion will be complete in 2020 and will provide 1,400 metres of quay at water depths of up to 10.5 metres. The Port Infrastructure Group plans to return to the site when it is complete.

Commenting on the visit, Alan Todd, Port Director at the Port of Blyth, and Chair of the Infrastructure Group, said:

“British Ports are continuously looking to invest and improve their infrastructure and it was fascinating to get an overview of the journey from idea to inception that the Harbour has been through. Investment of this kind keeps the industry competitive and productive.”