A5 20mm A4 23mm A3 26mm SPRING 2016 www.tideway.london A2 Tideway 39mm Times “Whilst she may be gone, at Tide- way we have made sure that she is not forgotten. Our environmentally Tideway honours sympathetic ‘urban camouflage’ art- work is set to serve as a reminder of her service to the nation and to iconic HMS the capital.” From German U-boats to glamour- ous weddings, HMS President has President seen it all over the past century, but she still has plenty of life left within Tideway is paying tribute to one of the last three First her for more adventures. World War vessels still in existence since she was Launched by the Royal Navy as relocated from the River Thames after 93 years. HMS Saxifrage in 1918, the ves- sel began as a submarine hunting ‘Q ship’, designed to fool enemy submarines into thinking she was To make way for construction of the view to potentially using the design just a normal freighter before reveal- Thames Tideway Tunnel, HMS Presi- for hoardings at Tideway sites ing her deadly arsenal at the last dent has moved from Blackfriars to a across London. moment. When the First World War temporary home on the River Med- Mark Sneesby, Chief Operating finished, she was renamed HMS way, where she will be refitted and Officer at Tideway, said: “HMS Presi- President and served the Royal refurbished, ahead of her centenary dent has been a permanent fixture Navy with distinction as a reserve in 2018. on the Thames for 93 years, and base on the Thames, training the Tideway is honouring HMS Pres- whilst we are saddened to see her next generation of sailors defending ident’s wartime service by using move on to the next chapter of her the country. the boat’s distinctive ‘dazzle cam- life, it is fitting that she is moving She continued to serve the capi- ouflage’ pattern as a basis for an to protect the river that has been tal, firstly as a charity centre, before artwork installation at the Kirtling her home. becoming a unique function venue Street site in Battersea, with a in 1996 and forming the backdrop to numerous events and weddings over the years. To commemorate her role in the First World War, in 2014 she was repainted in ‘dazzle camouflage’, designed to confuse the enemy, a key naval tactic during the war. Her historical significance means she will also be in demand for the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War in the same year. She remains one of just three First World War vessels that served with the Royal Navy still in existence. Tideway will be using the site at Blackfriars Embankment to con- nect the tunnel to an existing sewage discharge point in to the river. Once completed, a new area of embankment will be created, giv- HMS President makes her journey to the River Medway in February ing additional public space to enjoy the river. MESSAGE FROM ANDY MITCHELL — TIDEWAY CEO Welcome to the latest edition of that this will not be the case at Tide- work we’ve been doing at the site, Tideway Times. Over the past few way, which is why we’ve pledged to which has involved moving the iconic months, we have been focused on start the ‘Right Way’. HMS President and starting work on finding ways to finish the Thames Our health and safety campaign will a new pier and lift. Thames Water Tideway Tunnel programme faster make sure everyone working on the has also been carrying out some than scheduled. We are hoping this Thames Tideway Tunnel—whether important work at Chambers Wharf could be up to two years earlier than they’re from the Tideway project in Bermondsey to prepare for con- planned – something we are sure will team, the main works contractors, struction to begin, which has involved come as welcome news for the com- or the supply chain, is prepared to removing materials from the site by munities we are working in. Work has start work safely and get home to barge. This is all part our strategy to already started at one of our main their families and friends, healthy and move more materials by river, and a drive sites in Kirtling Street, Batter- happy, at the end of every day. You’ll sign of things to come as we strive sea, with preparations underway be able to see evidence of our ‘Right to keep as many lorries off the road to begin work in Fulham and Ber- Way’ campaign around our sites as possible. mondsey in the next two months. soon. In the meantime, I am proud Elsewhere in this edition you can While we are endeavouring to finish to see that our employees are already find out how Tideway staff have been earlier than scheduled, our number leading the way in tackling health and giving their time to volunteer for char- one priority remains – as it always safety issues, not just at work but in ity (p.7), see what we are doing to will – to do things safely or not at all. the wider community. You can read tackle the skills gaps in construc- Now is the most fundamental time more about the excellent example set tion (p.13) and how we are helping to ensure we’re getting health and by one of our engineers who stood develop the next generation of train- safety right. Sadly, previous experi- up and took action against a health ing for river workers (p.4–5). ence and statistics tell us that it’s the hazard on page nine. I hope you enjoy this edition of beginning of construction projects It’s been a busy time for us since Tideway Times, and look forward to that tend to be the most dangerous, we started work at Blackfriars at the updating you again in summer when with serious injuries and fatalities end of last year. In this issue, you work on the Thames Tideway Tunnel much more likely. We are determined can find out about the important will be in full swing. 02 Launch of new Thames Tideway Tunnel ‘fly through’ video A new video following the route of the Thames Tideway Tunnel from the sky above London was launched at the London Infrastructure Summit. The video plots the tunnel’s journey from The film had its premiere at the London Acton in west London, following the route Infrastructure Summit on 10 March. along the River Thames and the Limehouse The summit bought together key indus- Cut to Abbey Mills in east London where try players exploring critical areas where it will join the Lee Tunnel and continue to the infrastructure sector can contribute to Beckton sewage treatment works. developing a world class capital city. Passing over the city’s famous land- marks along the River Thames, the short film details each of the construction sites Watch the video at: required to build the tunnel, and highlights www.tideway.london/the-tunnel important information about each site. 03 Making waves in river training Tideway is helping to lead the way in marine training as the company pledges to move more by river during construction. Tideway is aiming to transport at The course includes a virtual reality transformational.” In May, the new least 4.2 million tonnes of spoil simulator of the tidal River Thames, Thames Skills Academy (TSA) will be during construction of the Thames complete with tides, flows, all cur- launched with the support of Tide- Tideway Tunnel by river, a 30% rent timetabled passenger vessels way, to help ensure that there is a increase to the existing river traffic and changeable weather conditions. sufficient, trained workforce, quali- and creating at least 300 maritime Andy Mitchell, Tideway CEO, vis- fied to operate freight vessels on the jobs, including bargehands and tug ited HR Wallingford to try out the River Thames. boat operators. simulator. He said: “I can see that Roger Bailey, Asset Manage- Along with HR Wallingford, an this could become a new standard ment Director, said: “It’s key for our independent research and con- for regular competency re-evalua- vision of reconnecting London with sultancy in civil engineering and tion for the Thames rather like that the river.” environmental hydraulics, Tide- required of airline pilots. It was truly way has helped develop a four-day ground breaking stuff and I just have course designed to ensure boat to thank all of our team who have masters working for Tideway are been behind this over the past cou- fully prepared and skilled to work ple of years—this is exactly what on the Thames. we mean when we talk about being A barge removes spoil from Chambers Wharf 04 “ It’s key for our vision of reconnecting London with the river.”” Andy Mitchell trials the simulator at HR Wallingford Tideway will sit on the TSA A long-reach excavator trans- “This is therefore a carefully board, along with the Port of Lon- ferred spoil from site to 1000 tonne planned operation, to ensure maxi- don Authority, Transport for London capacity barges, and the material mum efficiency when the tides are in and the Company of Watermen was taken east to Pitsea in Essex— our favour. It is also a piece of work and Lightermen. a four and a half hour journey. that we are undertaking with the In March, a barge carrying spoil Removal of this stockpile will allow upmost sensitivity, given the prox- from a Tideway site in east Lon- for the construction of a sub-station imity to local residents.” don signalled the start of efforts to in the south-east corner of the site.