A £25m marine infrastructure upgrade is well underway at the Port of Lowestoft.
In 2021, owner Associated British Ports (ABP) announced plans to develop the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF), which will see significant improvements made to facilities at the port’s Outer Harbour. The overall aim is to transform the port into an offshore energy hub.
The following year, ABP appointed Mclaughlin & Harvey to design and build their vision for the facility.
The focus is on providing a base to meet the current and future demands of the offshore energy industry and ensure the port can accommodate the next generation of offshore support vessels.
Marine civil engineering contractors Red7Marine were involved in delivering a £2m piling scope for the harbour upgrade, which included the installation of 145 tubular piles and 140 sheet piles along the quayside.
Their engineers took part throughout the project, designing temporary works and carrying out modification to an existing piling gate.
All the fabrication works were carried out in-house at their Cliff Quay workshop in Ipswich.
Kristen Branford, Managing Director at Red7Marine, said, “We are delighted to have finished the piling operations as a part of the Lowestoft Eastern Energy facility project, working close to home on this important investment for the region which will mean the port, and therefore the town, will be able to continue to grow as a thriving centre for supporting the offshore energy industry.”
David Baskin, Senior Contracts Manager at McLaughlin & Harvey, added, “Red7Marine was contracted by us to deliver the installation of 350m of combi-wall and the CTV piling for our Lowestoft project.
“They acted professionally throughout and delivered the project to a high standard and ahead of programme.”
McLaughlin & Harvey’s work will continue over the next few months. When complete, the project will provide 360m of berthing space for simultaneous use by three SOVs and deliver up to 8 acres of flexible storage and marshalling area. It will also create around 5,000 sq ft of new office space with direct quayside access.
Nick announces retirement
Red7Marine’s founder and CEO Nick Offord has stepped down after 25 years at the business.
Nick will continue to work in the industry as chairman of IJUBOA (International Jack-up Barge Operators Association), driving training initiatives and creating the first ever Barge Master Apprenticeship Scheme.
He said, “I’ve been lucky enough to work with some fantastic people over the years and I look forward to staying in touch with them. “
The new leadership team comprises directors Kristen Brandford, Matt O’Sullivan and Mark Walton, together with chairman John Walsh, who led a management buyout of the company in 2022.
