Gateshead contractor heads to the Falklands

Southbay Civil Engineering is heading to the South Atlantic for an 18-month assignment on the Falkland Islands.

Southbay Falkland Islands Ltd (SFI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Gateshead-based Southbay Civil Engineering, has won the tender to design and construct a new causeway at Port Stanley .

The existing causeway, which extends to a large pontoon barge and spans 240 metres into the harbour, is to be replaced. The new causeway will have increased capacity to accommodate larger vehicles.

The work involves the construction of a structure consisting of an inner rock core and outer rock armour, along with a new heavy steel ramp to connect it to the floating barge.

Southbay managing director Paul Stephenson said: “To have been awarded this prestigious contract demonstrates our technical and logistical capability to deliver large projects on an international scale, and our success was made possible due to our development of a simplified design and low risk construction method based on our extensive knowledge as specialist marine civil engineers.”

Much of the plant and equipment has been transported from the Port of Tyne, including a 150-tonne crawler crane, three 20-tonne dumper trucks, three excavators up to 60 tonnes in weight, compaction equipment and all the small tools required.

Local Falklands labour and raw materials will be used to complete the project, after which time the existing causeway structure will be decommissioned.

Stephenson added: “Having successfully co-ordinated the load out of the specialist plant and materials from the Port of Tyne, we look forward to completing on-site operations to enhance our reputation as one of the UK’s leading marine contractors – both at home and on the other side of the world.”

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