Northern Ireland-based contractor GRAHAM has reached a key project milestone on the development of a new port in the South East of England.

The firm is on site at the north bank of the River Thames at Tilbury to deliver the UK's largest unaccompanied freight ferry port, Tilbury2.

Recent work on Tilbury2 has seen a 360-tonne bridge lifted into place. The steel bridge was towed 135 nautical miles from Rotterdam to the Tilbury2 site before it was lifted into place.  

The approach bridge is the first of three components to be installed over the next few months to create a Roll On – Roll Off facility into the new terminal. 

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Peter Ward, Commercial Director at The Port of Tilbury, said: "This is another important milestone in the creation of our new port Tilbury2.  

"GRAHAM's team successfully completed the link span fixed bridge installation and we look forward to seeing the bridge opened early next year."

The steel bridge, measuring 54m x 15m x 5m was chosen for its strength and durability in the marine environment. 

It was transported by the HAPO pontoon H-332 and supporting tug.  

The Port of London (PLA) pilots were on board when entering the Thames Estuary and remained with GRAHAM throughout the lifting operations. 

Following closely behind in convoy was the MATADOR 3 seagoing floating sheerleg crane with a lifting capacity of 1,800 tonnes, again with a supporting tug. 

Paul Scott, Contracts Director for GRAHAM, said: "We have hit another milestone on this major project with the arrival and installation of the approach bridge.  

"It was a real team effort from the loading out at Ravestein's BV yard through to the installation.  

"The approach bridge is positioned from abutments on both the landside of the flood defence and on the foreshore."

(CM/JG)