Leeds’ Fibrwrap UK secures 11 week contract with BAE Systems

Leeds-based specialist contractor Fibrwrap UK will soon begin work on strengthening a jetty in Gosport on behalf of BAE Systems.

As a result of winning this contract, Fibrwrap UK has boosted its association with the global aerospace and defence specialist having delivered a similar project at HM Naval Base Portsmouth.

Fibrwrap UK’s six-strong team will be onsite for 11 weeks to conduct concrete repairs and carbon fibre strengthening to the 12 concrete columns that hold up the centre of the 120m long jetty.

To do this, the team will encase the columns in Fibrwrap UK’s innovative Carbon Fibre Strengthening System, which will strengthen the columns of the concrete jetty.

Fibrwrap’s team is working on the main pier columns that are directly under the location of the new radar tower. Finally a third coating of Fibrwrap’s unique marine epoxy will provide extra protection to the piles for many years to come.

BAE Systems commissioned the work as part of a larger project to install a new Vessel Traffic Management System, which will assist in the controlling and monitoring of all ship movements within Portsmouth Harbour and the Eastern Solent.

Jamie Dempster, manager director UK at Fibrwrap UK, said: “We are delighted to have been asked to carry out these works for BAE Systems following our successful completion of a project to strengthen a wooden boat launch jetty at Portsmouth Naval Base in 2013.

“Once again, this will be an extremely challenging project due to the very small tidal windows during which the works will need to be delivered. Our team will have to work outside of normal working hours to ensure the works are delivered safely and to deadline.

“Unlike at Portsmouth Naval Base, where the jetty is made of timber, the jetty at Gosport is concrete so our highly-trained engineers will utilise their expertise to ensure there is no environmental damage caused during the works.”