A detailed site survey has taken place on a Hull dock as part of preparations for a proposed Siemens wind turbine manufacturing plant.
Specialists from civil and structural engineering company Alan Wood & Partners carried out the topographic survey for the Green Port Hull scheme.
Energy giant Siemens has chosen the project, at Associated British Ports’ (ABP) Alexandra Dock site in the city, as its preferred location for a factory, employing several hundred people, to assemble turbines for offshore wind farms.
Alan Wood & Partners, which was established in the 1960s and has five offices across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, with its head office in Hull and their newly-opened Sheffield office, is one of the first companies to benefit from the significant opportunities being presented by the Green Port Hull development and the region’s growing renewable energy industry.
Being the area’s premier civil and structural engineering firm, and having carried out many previous projects on all of the city’s docks, Alan Wood & Partners was a natural choice to complete the topographic survey.
Nick Ward, director of Alan Wood & Partners , said: “As a Hull-based company, we were particularly delighted to have carried out this important survey, at a site that has the potential to play a crucial role in the future of the region and its long-term prosperity.
“The survey has seen us involved in Green Port Hull at an early stage and I am sure our range of services can help further as this project, and other renewable energy schemes, develops.”
Two engineers, using the most up-to-date global positioning system (GPS) equipment, spent more than two weeks carrying out the topographic survey, which identifies the characteristics of a site before plans for a development are completed.
The satellite technology allowed an accurate, electronic, drawing of the dock’s features to be produced, showing the location’s elevation and distances between buildings and roads.
Measuring 74 hectares (182 acres) in area, Alexandra Dock is one of the largest sites Alan Wood & Partners has surveyed in recent years but is typical of the size of scheme the company is now able to assist with.
Chris Medlin, director of Alan Wood & Partners, said: “The entire dock complex was surveyed at the request of ABP, who required the study to be done as part of their ongoing discussions with Siemens about the Green Port Hull project.
“ The engineers who carried out the survey did an excellent job, giving detailed information to ABP about the developable areas of the dock.
“This type of electronic drawing allows developers to look ahead with full knowledge of the site, including what is there already and what is possible.”
Mr Medlin added: “The fact that we are a local firm, on the doorstep of Green Port Hull, means we already knew the dock site well and were able to provide a prompt service, using our vast experience and extensive skills.”
Sean Blissett, ABP engineering manager , Humber, said Alan Wood & Partners is among the first group of companies to work on the new development.
He said: “We are always keen to use local companies whenever possible and particularly in this case where we have a long-standing relationship with Alan Wood & Partners, who understand port-related engineering matters and the needs of our business.”
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Source: FOOTPRINTRENEWABLES, May 18, 2011