Following the start of the Port of Dover’s iconic Dover Western Docks Revival (DWDR) development program of works back in 2014; a key milestone of having worked one million man-hours in Dover has been exceeded.
To date over 15 different contractors have been involved all contributing their own specialist skills at the different stages of the program.
The Principal Contractor for the Marine Civils and Bridge contract, VSBW, – a joint venture between VolkerStevin Boskalis Westminster – accounts for two thirds of those hours.
Working closely with both their own initiative, Safety Ripple, which ensures that everyone on site is engaged and responsible for safety, and the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS), underpins how a strong behavioral safety culture has been formed resulting in no serious accidents or incidents being recorded in their 680,000 site-based hours, reported the Port of Dover.
The Port also added that former contractors, GRAHAM, who delivered the enabling works based on the Hoverport and Prince of Wales Pier clocked-up over 42,000 hours, and Jackson Civil Engineering, who were responsible for the A20 Junction Improvement Scheme to replace York and Union Street roundabouts into the current computerized traffic light system, clocked-up over 64,000 hours.
Kevin Williams, Senior Project Manager at the Port of Dover , said: “ This is a real achievement and milestone. From the outset a key contract initiative has been to employ as many personnel as possible to ensure that the benefit is felt locally and in the East Kent Region .”
“ To date 29% of the workforce has been employed locally, 48% living within the East Kent region and the investment contribution to the economy, from VSBW’s contract alone, has reached £136 million.This milestone underpins the regenerative effect the development has started to have and is the catalyst for attracting future long-term investment to Dover and the Port ,” added Kevin Williams.
To add to the challenge of running a safe and efficient site, and with currently four different Principal Contractors each trying to deliver their own packages of work alongside each other, cooperation and logistics planning has been key to maintaining program and a safe working environment.
Recognition was underlined by the recently awarded ‘Exceptional’ status from CCS, which highlights how the team has exceeded key safety requirements and constantly engaged with all sections of the community to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.