Tarmac Jetty Purfleet – Fender removal
Overview
- Client: Tarmac
- Project Value: £115,000
- Dates: June 2025
GPS MACS were instructed by Tarmac to replace ladders on their jetty in Purfleet and remove a damaged timber fender from the upstream dolphin of the jetty.
For this scope of works the GPS Boxer crane barge was mobilised at an off-site facility in Upnor. The crane barge was be towed to site and moored on the upstream end of the jetty.
The damaged fender was located on the downstream dolphin of the jetty. The fender consists vertical timber piles, driven slightly into the riverbed. The vertical timbers were attached at the top via horizontal timbers and brackets back to the concrete dolphin deck. However, these brackets had become damaged and there was a risk the fender could fall into the water.
A hydrainer dredge pump was first used to excavate around the base of each timber. Once a sufficiently sized area had been excavated the diver cut the timber and timbers were then lifted onto the deck of the barge to be taken away and disposed of.
We were appointed on the project as principal contractor:
Extraction of timber fender piles using crane on Boxer
Cutting of timber fenders 1m below river bed level by divers if they cannot be removed using the crane
Project delivery
We were employed as the principal contractor with overall responsibility for the safe and effective delivery of the works on site.
Engineering
Stability analysis for the barges
Planned, supervised, and carried out all lifting operations on site (landside and marine)
Setting out and surveying, drawings, coordinating works and planning of operations
Marine Logistics
Planned, supervised and carried out mobilisation of all marine plant to site. Including crane barge
Commercial diving operations
GPS MACS managed diving subcontractors works removing the damaged fender
Construction
Installing new ladders along the jetty
Demolition
Removal of all damaged fendering, horizontal and vertical
Removal of damaged ladders
