Contractors sought for £150m Welsh breakwater refurb

Stena Line Ports is seeking contractors for a £150m project at Holyhead in North Wales.

The shipping giant has asked firms interested in the breakwater refurbishment scheme to register for a market engagement event on 1 April.

The Grade II-listed breakwater is the longest of its kind in the UK at 2.75km and provides protection to vessels, port infrastructure and the seafront.

But after gradual erosion, works are required to ensure its stability and reduce the chance of a breach during storm conditions, Stena said in a statement yesterday (10 March).

Principal elements of the job are likely to include provision of about 11,600 45-tonne tetrapod armour units (a type of concrete block used to reinforce breakwaters) and 750 120-tonne chevron blocks, it added.

Rockfill will need to be supplied and placed to reprofile the breakwater foundations. The tetrapod and chevron blocks will be placed on the seaward side and around the end of the breakwater.

Concrete mattresses will also be supplied and placed on the harbour side of the breakwater, with rock armour at the landward end.

Stena Line Ports said it was keen to hear from firms “experienced in undertaking coastal and maritime engineering construction works”.

It added that works were likely to be limited to the summer season “due to the exposed nature of the site”.

A two-stage competitive tender exercise will follow the 1 April workshop, with contractors to be asked to demonstrate proven experience in the delivery of similar projects during the first stage.

Carl-Johan Hellner, chief operating officer for ports and terminals at Stena Line Ports, said the launch of the procurement process for the project was a crucial step in securing the future of the structure.

“The breakwater is essential for protecting the Port of Holyhead and the town, ensuring the safety of our operations and the ships that dock here,” he added.

“This significant investment aims to preserve this historical infrastructure and underscores our commitment to maintaining Holyhead Port’s stability and securing its sustainable future.”

The breakwater works form part of a strategic plan to secure the sustainable future of Holyhead’s port, the second busiest roll-on, roll-off shipping hub in the UK.

The Welsh and UK governments are contributing £20m each to the overall initiative.

Contractors can find more detail of the Holyhead refurbishment procurement process here.