Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s leading and best-connected port operator has completed the installation of new lock gates at the Wet Dock entrance at the Port of Ipswich, which represent an investment of £2 million and will support the activities of Ipswich Haven and Neptune marinas as well as the wider leisure and tourism sector in Ipswich.

Work started on the contract 18 months ago and a series of reports and surveys were conducted to ensure that the installation could be conducted in a safe and efficient manner, whilst also minimising disruption to leisure and commercial users of Ipswich Wet Dock.

Andrew Harston, ABP Wales and Short Sea Ports Director, said: “We are delighted to have completed this project on schedule whilst fully adopting Covid-19 safe working procedures and we trust that this investment in new durable, high quality lock gates will help them fulfil their function for decades to come.

“I would like to thank our operations and maintenance teams who provided excellent support and assistance with electrical and hydraulics-related elements of the project, in order to ensure the efficient completion of the installation.”

The new dock gates, which consist of an outer and inner gate set regulate water in the Wet Dock, maintaining safe water levels in the Ipswich Haven and Neptune Marinas. To help deliver this project, ABP commissioned Ravestein, a company renowned for specialising in high quality, durable heavy steel constructions such as bridges and lock gates.

The new gates were delivered by barge ensuring there was no requirement for road transport and were accompanied by a floating crane which travelled from the Netherlands and which performed the removal of the old gates and installed the new ones.

Cees Ravestein, Founder and Director of Ravestein BV, said: “We are very happy to have achieved another successful ‘on time’ installation of new replacement lock gates at Ipswich and would like to thank ABP for their part in an excellent working relationship.”

This latest upgrade follows ABP’s recent investment of £370,000 to repair Ipswich’s New Cut river wall, which brings the total amount invested in enhancing port infrastructure in Ipswich to nearly £2.4 million in the last three months alone.

Please use this link to watch a time lapse video showing the installation of the lock gates:

https://vimeo.com/481126726.