VSBW Steps up Work on Dover Western Docks Revival

Piling work for the port’s flagship Dover Western Docks Revival (DWDR) development project is in full swing now, according to the Breckland Geomatics.

The DWDR Principal Contractor, a joint venture between VolkerStevin and Boskalis Westminster (VSBW), has mobilized various marine equipment for the Dover scheme, including self-propelled crane barge, dredgers, split hopper barges, tugs, survey vessels, etc.

Approximately one million cubic meters of silt, gravel and chalk will be removed from the harbor to allow for the creation of a purpose-built cargo and logistics facility, a new marina and a transformed waterfront at Europe’s busiest ferry port.

For the removal of soft sediment the contractor is using two trailing suction hopper dredgers, the 1,500m³ ‘Sospan Dau’ and one of the 4,500m³ Causeway class vessels.

Harder material will be dredged with the ‘MP40’ backhoe dredger and transferred to the 800m³ self-discharging split hopper barges ‘Wadden 1’ and ‘Wadden 4’ for removal to the designated offshore licensed disposal area.

The DWDR contract, worth approximately £115 million, includes the design and construction of two new berths along with quay walls and land reclamation, a new marina pier, the marina curve, navigation channel and new lock gates, bascule bridge and capital dredging work.

The construction program is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2018.