Ha’Penny Pier Pontoon Refurbishment Phase 3

This is the third and final pontoon to be refurbished at Ha’Penny Pier in Harwich.

The first pontoon was successfully completed in early 2018 and the second one completed in Spring 2019.

This third pontoon was completed using the same principles as the first two although there were added challenges for this pontoon because it supports the access gangway and mooring facility for boat re-fuelling.

The first operation was therefore to provide a replacement pontoon. This was formed using a modular pontoon system and put into the water from the beach close to the pier where temporary pile gates were installed. A barge and crane was used to lift the gangway while the existing pontoon was released from the mooring piles and the temporary pontoon installed.

The existing pontoon was then towed to a berth at the adjacent Navy Yard where 90t of ballast was removed from the pontoon compartments. The pontoon was then lifted out of the water and transported through Harwich on an abnormal load lorry with police escort to Harwich International Port. It was then lifted onto steel trestles and a scaffold tent erected over it.

Inside this tent the pontoon was stripped down, received UHP water blasting and shot blasting, steel plate repairs, new steel deck and fender supports, a final shot blast, painting, rubber fenders and deck finishes.

The pontoon was then returned to the water where it was re-ballasted and finally located back on to its pile guides at Ha’Penny Pier, replacing the temporary pontoon which was stripped down and removed from the water.