ABP: £2.7 million lock gate project secures future of Newport docks
A £2.7 million project to renew the outer lock gates and refurbish the middle lock gates at the Port of Newport has now been completed. Work was commissioned by port owner and operator ABP South Wales and took place between February and July 2018, the ABP said in its press release.
This essential replacement and refurbishment of the Newport Dock outer and middle lock gates will ensure that they can continue to protect the dock impoundment and locking operation for at least the next 60 years.
Newport is home to a busy deep sea shipping programme that sees regular trade between Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, Africa, Australia, North and South America and the Far East .. The port supports the import and export supply chains of a number important and local and national industrial customers handling a wide range of commodities including steel, timber, aggregates, metal scrap, animal feeds and fertiliser.
Matthew Kennerley, Director, ABP South Wales, said: “The Port of Newport is an important infrastructure asset for both Wales and the rest of the UK. Careful planning by our engineering department ensured that essential lock gate refurbishment works, were carried out in line with a plan that met all stakeholder needs and did not impact the shipping programmes of port customers.”
The South Lock serves as the sole entrance to the Port of Newport’s South and North docks. The South Lock is a large chamber that allows vessels to be raised or lowered between differing water levels, allowing safe entry into the port. It is vital that lock gates are watertight.
