In its first assignment beyond UK shores, an expanding Tyneside based specialist civil engineering contractor has started work on a project in a remote part of the South Atlantic.
Following a competitive tender process, Southbay Falkland Islands Ltd (SFI Ltd), a wholly owned subsidiary of the multi-award-winning contractor Southbay Civil Engineering Limited is to be based in the Falkland Islands for the next 18 months as they design and construct a new causeway.
The existing causeway, which extends to a large pontoon barge and spans 240m into the harbour of the islands’ capital city Stanley, is to be replaced. The new causeway will have increased capacity to accommodate vehicles of a larger size.
The work, which involves the construction of a structure consisting of an inner rock core and outer rock armour, along with a new heavy steel ramp to connect it to the floating barge, is part of a site investment that will support increased offshore operations for the next 30 years.
Southbay managing director, Paul Stephenson explained: “To have been awarded this prestigious contract demonstrates our technical and logistical capability to deliver large projects on an international scale, and our success was made possible due to our development of a simplified design and low risk construction method based on our extensive knowledge as specialist marine civil engineers.”
To maximise efficiency given the site’s isolated location, and mitigate the potential for delay in the event of equipment breakdowns or issues with on-site supplies, a significant volume of plant and equipment has been transported directly from the Port of Tyne, including a 150-tonne Crawler Crane, three 20-tonne dumper trucks, three excavators up to 60-tonnes in weight, compaction equipment, and all the small tools required.
In support of the Falklands economy, local labour and raw materials will be used to complete the project, after which time the existing causeway structure will be decommissioned.
Paul continued: “Having successfully coordinated the load out of the specialist plant and materials from the Port of Tyne, we look forward to completing on-site operations to enhance our reputation as one of the UK’s leading marine contractors – both at home and on the other side of the world!”
The news comes just a few months after the 60-strong team relocated to a new headquarters in Team Valley, Gateshead, to accommodate its ongoing expansion after nearly 25 years in North Tyneside.