Rebel Marine is playing an intrinsic part in keeping transport links open in the South of England with work on two separate coastal structures.
Constructed in 1884, the Lymington Viaduct is an impressive 10-span structure that plays a crucial role in carrying the railway over Lymington Harbour in Hampshire UK, providing vital access to the Wightlink | Isle of Wight Ferries.
The viaduct is supported by nine pairs of piers that uphold the main girders, with cross girders connecting them to support rail bearers, which in turn hold the track on specially designed hardwood wheel timbers.
Working in partnership with Octavius Infrastructure and the Network Rail Southern Renewals Enterprise on the recent blockade works, the Rebel Marine team operated 24 hours a day for 15 days, completing 46 shifts all through the winter holiday period.
On-site, Rebel Marine utilised an array of equipment, including: - 2 workboats - 460m² of modular pontoons - 2 crane pontoon barges with spud legs - 1 spider crane - 1 marine knuckle boom crane - 2 tower lights
The initial task involved deploying modular pontoons and workboats to facilitate the installation of scaffolding beneath the viaduct. Once that was set up, a spider crane, mounted on the modular pontoons, was able to lift out the old rail bearers and install the newly fabricated replacements, along with various other materials and equipment essential for the project. The modular pontoons had been pre-loaded further down the river before the blockade and were then floated into position to serve as temporary storage.
Throughout the blockade, the crane and pontoons provided ongoing support, and once the work was completed, they were used to demobilise equipment and transport redundant materials back downstream for unloading. Once that was complete, the focus shifted to the removal of scaffolding to prepare for the next phase of works.
Rebel Marine is currently working alongside Alltask Limited on the current phase of works at Ryde Pier on the Isle of Wight. Due to reopen in just over two months’ time, Ryde Pier is closed to Island Line services from September 2024 to May 2025 for vital maintenance and repairs. The work aims to extend the life of the historic pier by up to 60 years.
