Devonport's 9 Dock officially reopens
VolkerLaser has been working on behalf of VolkerStevin and Babcock to conduct repair and restoration works to 9 Dock at HMNB Devonport.
HMNB Devonport, located in Plymouth, stands as the largest naval base in Western Europe, with a history of supporting the Royal Navy since 1691. Over the next decade, Babcock will be leading a series of major infrastructure projects aimed at redeveloping the base. The program's goal is to deliver the extensive upgrades needed to establish state-of-the-art facilities that meet the evolving needs of the UK’s Royal Navy.
This is currently the UK's most critical defence infrastructure project. As part of the civils and structures work package, VolkerLaser contributed our expertise to the construction and upgrade of the dock itself, along with its associated equipment.
The full scopes of work included concrete testing and concrete repairs and replacements.
Before starting on a designated area, the team conducted a variety of concrete survey tests across the entire site, this included hammer tests and cooling tests to identify the current condition of the concrete.
The next stage involved the completion of more than 2,000 structural and shallow concrete repairs, along with corrosion protection, Gatic lid replacement and construction joints. This work was delivered as a phased approach to the dock walls, subways, ACRC, Caisson and dock entrance.
The UK Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle attended site on Thursday 12 September and officially re-opened 9 Dock, allowing HMNB Devonport to continue to support the MOD and keep the UK nuclear deterrent operational.
Speaking at the ceremony, Maria Eagle said, “I am honoured to open 9 Dock, and to have the opportunity to speak with personnel and staff on their vital contribution to our nation’s security”.
“We are proud of our achievements over the past two years. What began as a £1.3 million, four-month contract evolved into an £8 million project spanning 20 months. This has been a testament to our ability to successfully manage change and adapt to new challenges. Document control played a crucial role in submitting claims and compensation events, and it was a great team effort from our operational, commercial, and planning teams. I’m also pleased with how we’ve supported and developed our trainees. Charlotte, Ray, and Alex have all gained valuable experience and improved immensely throughout the project.”
Andy Smith Project Manager
