Ocean Kinetics’ role in Aberdeen harbour extension project

MARINE engineering specialist Ocean Kinetics is playing a key role in Aberdeen Harbour’s £350 million expansion project.

The Shetland and Aberdeen-based company is involved in transferring and placing a number of large, 51-metre long concrete structures that will form the new North Castlegate Quay and East Dunnottar Quays.

The concrete structures – or caissons – are towed from their floating storage in the Cromarty Firth to the extension site at Aberdeen where they are placed in position.

When in position, the caissons are ballasted with seawater, before being filled with rock and topped with concrete to form the new quay.

Ocean Kinetics managing director John Henderson said the company has been providing services to Aberdeen Harbour for a number of years.

“Our job is to prepare the remaining caissons for towage, give assistance during the tow then place the caissons and ballast them down onto the seabed in the correct position,” he said.

“The first two have now been delivered and are in place – each caisson is approximately 51 metres long, 12 metres wide, 16m metres deep and weigh 5500 tonnes – these two caissons are the final units for the north-facing 540 metre-long Castlegate Quay.

“This is challenging, highly skilled work which demands great experience and expertise.”

Aberdeen Harbour chief executive Michelle Handforth said: “Construction of the fixed quays is progressing quickly, and we now have less than half of the caissons to arrive and be placed in the harbour.”

A total of 22 caissons will be used to construct the fixed quay areas of South Harbour, providing heavy-lift capacity and significantly reducing the amount of concrete required in the construction phase.

Established in 1992 in Lerwick, Ocean Kinetics specialises in marine works, metal works and fabrication, welding, pipework, repair, diving and corrosion prevention, project management and design.