Hello, I’m Philip Wise and I'm the Principal Project Manager leading the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s programme team for the new jetty & dredge infrastructure projects in Portsmouth.
There was a good media turn-out and lots of positive coverage. One of the most common questions we were asked was how big the new carriers are in relation to the jetty? When we pointed out that just one of the ships was almost as long as the new jetty there was often a sharp intake of breath. The size and capability of these ships is impressive. They are like small floating towns that can be deployed almost anywhere in the world.
Besides the actual jetty, the project has also included a new set of harbour navigation lights (making sure the ships have safe passage in and out of Portsmouth is of paramount importance), a bespoke berthing system, a new high voltage electrical supply and of course the dredging work. This work will continue for a few more months. Once the dredge is complete we can expect HMS Queen Elizabeth to make her first visit to her new home later this year.
Obviously I was keen to talk about what we had achieved in terms of the engineering, and how the various parts of the project inter-connect with the ships, but something I overheard reminded me that it’s easy to view a project like this just in terms of physical achievement. One of the journalists said something like “So this is what a hundred million pounds worth of concrete looks like…” It’s true we did use a lot of reinforced concrete given that these ships are the largest ever operated by the Royal Navy, and they need a super-sized jetty. But all this effort is really about capability.
Our new carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, the new jetty, the repair and engineering workshops, ammunition facilities and all the other new facilities are all inter-connected. They are designed to last decades, perhaps much of this century, and they will help defend our country and protect Britain’s interests around the world.
Image: LPhot Paul Hall [Crown Copyright/MOD 2017]
I’ve been working on this project since 2008; others on the team go back even further. As with all major projects there have been difficulties, but part of the challenge is overcoming these issues and finding workable solutions. This we have done, through hard work, long hours and a strong team spirit. With the main work now complete I’d like to thank all those involved but especially Mike Preston, Captain Iain Greenlees, David Salmond, Sharon Richardson, Heather Walkling, Derrick Williams, Kris Cole & our contractors (Volker Stevin) team led by Gerrit Smit.
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