Essential MEICA Engineering Upgrades Refurbish Berth ED9
Qualter Hall are delighted to announce the completion of works for the Port of Dover on essential mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control, and automation (MEICA) maintenance at the Eastern Docks.
The project focused on Berth ED9, a critical roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) facility used for the transfer of freight, passengers and vehicles to/from ferries.
Qualter Hall’s specialist team was directly contracted by the Port of Dover to replace the four main hydraulic cylinders powering the movement of the linkspan bridge.
The linkspan bridge is a vital piece of infrastructure, accommodating high volumes of traffic. As the UK’s busiest international ferry port and a vital gateway for trade and tourism, Dover handles £144 billion of trade per year, 33% of UK trade in goods with the EU and welcomes over 11 million passengers. This makes the seamless operation of every berth mission-critical.
This marks the first time Qualter Hall has been contracted to work on Berth ED9, extending a successful relationship with the Port of Dover following previous works on a new drive system and associated electrical works at berth 6, and linkspan refurbishment works on Eastern Docks Berths 2, 3 and 7.
The scope of works was technically demanding, requiring the careful removal of 4 cylinders and their associated pins, the installation of new, high-performance hydraulic cylinders and the fitting of new pins. The sheer size and weight of these components, combined with the precision required for their installation and operation, necessitated a high degree of specialist expertise.
Recognising the Port of Dover’s pivotal role in the UK’s supply chain and travel network, the project management team made efforts to minimise the overall project timescale. By working closely with the Port’s in-house technical and engineering teams, any operational disruption was minimised.
Qualter Hall is proud to be a trusted partner to the Port of Dover, delivering essential engineering services that keep one of the UK’s most important gateways moving safely and efficiently.
