Presenting PIANC The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure Presentation by James Andrew Smith BSc(Hons) MSc CEng CMarEng MICE MIMarEST Principal Engineer/ Head of Bristol Office Beckett Rankine at the occasion of AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project • Twelve Quays Terminal – Birkenhead • Western Bank of the River Mersey • North West England Owned by: Credit: Google Earth Operated by: AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project History • Land part of interconnected docklands • Alfred Basin • Great Float Rankine • Designed by Transmarine Beckett : • Terminal first opened in 2002 Credit Arrangement • Pontoon Ro-Ro Berth • Two berths (North & South) • Monopile Dolphins • Fixed Bridge & Bankseat • 4 Point Torsionally Flexible Linkspan • Three lane HA/HRo AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Credit: David Byrne Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Credit: Stena Line Stena E-Flexer Class • Longer and heavier than RoPax • Double Deck: • Faster loading & Greater capacity • Slower sailing = lower emissions • Same Schedule • Ships design/construction run in Credit: Farrans parallel with berth upgrade Main Modifications Required • Upper level loading ramp • Berth Interface • Stern ramp wider and higher • Berthing and mooring modifications • Berth to remain operational! AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Concept & Feasibility Design & Build Contract AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Surveys and Studies • Topographic & Bathymetric • Utilities & Services • Historical Boreholes • Desktop UXO (Basic and Advanced) • Laser Scanning • Photographic Surveys • Internal and External UT surveys AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Pontoon Internal Surveys • Peel Ports commissioned survey in 2016 • All compartments opened but berth remained operational • Ballast tanks kept full limiting inspection • Dry tanks fully inspected • General conclusions: • Ballasted Tanks: “…good condition and all coatings are showing no signs of significant deterioration.”. • Dry Tanks: “…suffering from breakdown of coating...”. AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Weld and Joint Inspections • Visual and MPI inspection of all welded joints on Linkspan • Torsionally Flexible 4No. Point Support Linkspan • All welds/joints were free of cracks – remarkable achievement • Linkspan only required preparation and painting AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Constructability/Installation Assessments • One berth to remain operational • Upper Ramp required full possession • Phase plans developed for each structure • Lift plans assumed Lara 1 (Mersey Mammoth) Credit: Jörn Prestien AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Credit: Farrans AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Credit: Farrans Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Run-off – Single Level vs Double Level • Single tier linkspans water runs to Bankseat or drainage points • Runoff typically collected by interceptor or returns to River or Sea • Two-tier linkspan water runs to seaward bearings - cascading onto lower deck • Minor issue to drivers – Big issue to Operators! • Issue simply resolved with collection trough and down pipe Credit: Farrans AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Queensway Tunnel Interface • Ø14m by 3.24km long tunnel – 4No. Lanes • ~50m from new piles to tunnel • Existing pile already closer to tunnel • Plans shared with Mersey Travel (Operator) • Bored socket piles suit geology and favourable vibration compared to Driving AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Ships Stern Ramp Modifications • Revised Dwg’s issued during fabrication • Ships ramp modifications: • Length – Reduced from 2445mm to 2315mm • Profile – From flat to new knuckles added • Hinge – Relocated from top to bottom • Width – Overall width increased Implications • Stop Fender – Already being relocated • Existing Ramp – No longer compliant BS6349–8 AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Credit: Stena Line Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Ships Stern Ramp Modifications • Options: • New pontoon ramp – High Cost / Delays • Alter ships ramp – High Cost / Programme Delays • Bespoke filler piece • Conforms with BS 6349–8 • Relatively Low Cost • Retro-fitted AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Upper Linkspan Tolerance and Point Loads • Large point loads generated by new upper ramp columns • Internal Stiffeners sufficient but tolerances required • Ravestein opt for new over-sized 50mm landing plates • Greater Tolerance • Reduced confined space works AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Credit: Farrans Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Credit: Farrans Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Pontoon Internal Painting and Fatigue Cracking • Ballast Tanks drained to enable blasting and painting • Discovery of large fatigue cracks – Flange and Webs • Repairs carried out previously but unrecorded history • Ongoing study to assess the root cause – Fatigue Modelling • Temp repair using ‘Vee-and-Weld’ method. Credit: Farrans AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Ramp Modification and Cracking • Ramp removed for painting and modification • Cracks to 4No. ‘Sniped’ stiffeners • Ongoing study to assess the root cause • Temp repair using ‘Vee-and-Weld’ method Credit: Farrans AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project Credit: Farrans AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Twelve Quays – Two Levels Project AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Credit: Farrans THANK YOU AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021 Q&A AGA 2021 / 26 & 27 May 2021.