Jenkins Marine supported Lankelma by providing movement and towage support of the Sandpiper jackup vessel for geotechnical site investigation completed at Hengistbury Head, Dorset. The long groyne at Hengistbury Head was closed to the public for safety reasons following a detailed inspection of the structure using sonar and laser equipment in 2019. The structure was revealed to be in a very poor condition.
The project required the positioning and movement of the Sandpiper jackup rig, a 18m x 12m jackup platform complete with a SPT and drill rig to take soil samples and soil strength tests. These will help the local council’s Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management Team plan the most efficient and effective design for a new long groyne structure to ensure the continued and long-term stability of the coastline.
The project was supported by our well-equipped utility vessels, the Buffalo and the Frome for the repositioning works. This is a challenging location and the jackup barge positioning is heavily reliant on movements at high tides and a crucial consideration of the sea state. This is to ensure the jackup vessel is able to safely raise and lower the main operating deck from the water surface to offer a stable platform.
Given the shallow draft and the spudlegs on both vessels we were able to support the Sandpiper closely alongside the current Hengistbury Head groyne and ensure a stable hold while the barge is being jacked up. The site has a fair amount of underwater obstacles for our crews to consider due mainly to the rock ridge heading out along the race. The area is also renowned for the high current flows and choppy seas which can cause huge problems when vessels are there in the wrong times.
Our vessels and crew were on site every day of required movements and were in position in good time for the slack tides which ensured a safe operating environment. Overall, the project has benefitted from a perfect weather window for the works to commence with minimal delays to operations.
The works form part of the Poole Bay Beach Management Scheme, which is running between 2015-2032. It is estimated that the entire scheme will cost in the region of £50M, with the majority funded by the Environment Agency.
If you have a requirement for marine operations in shallow or near shore projects, please feel free to get in touch to see where we can help.