Ports & Infrastructure

Fish Quay Jetty Renewal

North Shields, Tyne & Wear

Client: North Shields Fish Quay Company

Project: A new, steel tubular piled concrete jetty at North Shields Fish Quay.

Cost: £3.5M

Services: Project Management , Quantity Surveying , Employer's Agent , Principal Designer

The construction of a new, steel tubular piled concrete jetty at North Shields Fish Quay, built directly over and around the existing jetty. Also included is a new wave wall landward side of the jetty to provide protection to the waters of the Gut which is used for mooring fishing boats.

The opportunity

The protection jetty is an important part of the North Shields Fish Quay, providing a covered landing area for fisherman. The protection jetty had been closed off for access and use for 5 years due to health and safety concerns surrounding its structural integrity. The remaining jetty continued to operate. The project enabled the urgent replacement works to the dilapidated section of the jetty ensuring the future of the structure and increasing the viability of the fish quay as a whole. It puts back into use two berthing facilities to enable vessels to berth and moor with the protection of a new wave wall. Funding for the project was jointly provided by North Tyneside Combined Authority and the Marine Management Organisation.

The challenge

The works were carried out in a live fishing environment, which required close coordination and communication with key stakeholders, including the fishing community and local businesses. Carrying out the piling works, over a structure which could not support the load of the crane, meant that differing options were reviewed, including carrying out the piling operation from a barge/pontoon. The final solution used a specially designed temporary works grillage, which moved along the jetty with the crane, transferring its load onto the new piles as the works progressed.

The outcome

The successful replacement of this section of the jetty has sustained the long-term viability of the North Shields fishing industry, ensuring the security of England’s biggest langoustine port and the premium fishing port of the English North Sea. It also safeguarded 56 businesses and 300 jobs.