Access to the iconic Fingal’s Cave on the Scottish Island of Staffa has been preserved with the help of Seawork exhibitors Shearwater Marine Services and Natural Cement.
Marine engineering and diving contractor Shearwater Marine Services was assigned the challenging task of repairing concrete steps at the entrance to Fingal’s Cave by client National Trust for Scotland. The steps had been severely damaged due to weathering, separating the concrete from the fractious basalt column bedrock.
Natural Cement’s TRACKCRETE product was specified for the repairs due to its environmentally friendly, high strength and hard-wearing properties. The product can be used in cold, wet, or underwater conditions, making it an ideal solution for the project.
Due to the site being situated in a highly protected marine environment, the first stage was initially carefully breaking out the concrete steps and removing the waste material from the island. Working on the island posed significant difficulties due to the adverse weather conditions, including strong winds and waves, which made it unsafe for vessels to approach the berthing areas.
To enhance the structure’s resilience against harsh weather, drill/resin dowel bars were inserted into the underlying substrata and reinforced with mesh steel.
The environmentally sensitive nature of the site meant that repair materials were required to be mixed by hand on the deck of the vessel ‘Sea Vigil’. The product was then transported by small boat to the working area for one of the team members to pour into the shutter.
Due to the fast-setting nature of TRACKCRETE, Natural Cement supplied Natcem Setting Retarder to be mixed in with the product on site, extending the setting time to approximately 1 hour to allow sufficient time for it to be mixed, transported, and poured prior to set.
The repair works were completed in just one working shift ensuring a successful project for all involved.
