All Aboard for $59m Ferries Project

Steel construction company REIDsteel has completed its phase of works on landmark passenger facilities as part of a £45 million ($59 million) ferry terminal revamp in Portsmouth, U.K.

The 130-strong firm was contracted for the project at Gunwharf for ferry operator Wightlink through Southampton-based engineering, procurement and construction contractor Trant Engineering.

REIDsteel, based in Dorset, U.K., designed, supplied and erected all steelwork, cladding, external windows and external doors for a two-storey car marshalling deck and a new customer experience building for passengers.

The new boarding ramps – which have just opened – will allow quicker loading of vehicles. 

The three-storey passenger terminal – designed in the style of a ferry – will include a ticket office, retail outlet and offices when completed.

Wightlink’s Investing for the Future project also includes a new flagship ferry, a two-tier loading ramp in Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight and state-of-the-art mooring systems to speed up turnaround times.

REIDsteel erection manager Simon Jeffs said, “This was an exciting and prestigious project for us to be involved in whilst remaining logistically and technically challenging because of its location, requirements and timescale.

“It was particularly challenging to erect the two storey steelwork whilst keeping ferry services fully operational.

“As a landmark project of huge importance to the local community and regional economy, the architects designed the customer experience building with a strong architectural nod towards a Wightlink ferry, including a sun terrace.”

He added: “With all work carried out at our site in Christchurch, Dorset, we were able to demonstrate our ability to design and supply all elements of the building envelope anywhere in the UK and world down to the windows and doors.”

The new second storey of the car marshalling area covers about 4,000m² and stands nearly 6m high above the existing car loading deck.

In total, 250 tonnes of steel was used in the project by REIDsteel.

All structures were designed and fabricated on site at REIDsteel in Christchurch, Dorset.

Wightlink is the leading cross-Solent ferry operator. It carries 450,000 people on 45,000 sailings a year with eight ferries on three routes.

Multidisciplinary contractor Trant Engineering, headquartered at Rushington, near Southampton, employs 1,000 people in the U.K. and overseas with turnover targeted at up to £140 million per annum.

REIDsteel has the capability to design, manufacture, ship and erect entire steel buildings including their cladding and or glazing requirements anywhere in the U.K. and the world.

It designs and constructs building in all kinds of environments and locations, including some of the world’s most dangerous places including war zones and areas with limited infrastructure.