Marine improvement project at major port progresses towards the final phases28th Sep 2018

An infrastructure improvement project at a major commercial port in North Wales is more than 75 per cent complete.

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK is leading the works at Holyhead Port, a major ferry hub in Anglesey, to improve safety and efficiency on the site.

Drainage, kerbing and resurfacing are all underway, following earlier land reclamation and installation of rock armour to straighten out the port’s existing waterfront embankment.

Disruption to port operations has been avoided thanks to a five-phase plan agreed by Jones Bros and long-standing client StenaLine Ports Ltd at Salt Island, adjacent to the busy ferry terminals.

The civil engineering company has worked with StenaLine for 17 years, first working with the ferry brand on a redevelopment of Terminal 3 at Holyhead.

Since then, Jones Bros has continued to carry out maintenance and capital projects on the site to ensure StenaLine’s North Wales base is well maintained.

Jones Bros site manager Emlyn Roberts, who lives on Anglesey, said: “Work is progressing well and we expect to be on site until the mid-November.

“The biggest challenge of this job is working within a live port environment, but Stena’s flexible approach has allowed us to seamlessly carry out works across different areas simultaneously.

“When this project is finished, it will provide users with an improved service efficiency experienced by accompanied and unaccompanied freight alongside passenger vehicles.”

Jones Bros has also provided a boost to the local economy, working closely with suppliers on the island. The family firm has purchased stone, concrete, and tarmacadam from The Hogan Group, as well as using the company as the main surfacing contractor for the works.

In addition, it has also engaged other local sub-contractors to carry out works such as Owen & Palmer for the electrical works and Jones & Jones for the project’s fencing requirement.

Jones Bros, a specialist in marine infrastructure and defences, is working under a marine licence from Natural Resources Wales to allow it to operate in this sensitive environment.

Use of biodegradable oil in heavy plant and other machinery that will come into contact with the water are among precautions being taken to protect the marine life.

Holyhead is the second largest port in the UK, handling 500,000 vehicles and 450,000 freight units a year.