Ferry Terminals marine ground investigation
Islay Routes Ferry Terminals
HOLEQUEST provided the ground investigation services to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd under the technical direction of Mott MacDonald for the proposed Islay Routes Ferry Upgrade.
The current works follow up a previous campaign of over-water investigation which we undertook for the original incarnation of the client’s scheme from 2009 at Kennacraig and Port Ellen.
The works were undertaken on land and over water at Kennacraig (mainland), Port Ellen (Islay), Port Askaig (Islay), and Scalasaig (Colonsay), on the West Coast of Scotland.
KENNACRAIG TERMINAL
The works at Kennacraig (2022) involved land-based rotary-drilled boreholes to profile rockhead and recover high quality rock core samples for inspection and testing. This provided the client’s team with parameters to permit an effective design for replacement of the existing linkspan facility.
Further over-water works utilising a vibrocorer were undertaken on the berth and approach routes to inform parameters for dredging and associated Marine Scotland Licencing.
PORT ASKAIG
The works at Port Askaig (2022) involved land-based rotary-drilled boreholes to profile rockhead and recover high quality rock core samples for inspection and testing. This provided the client’s team with parameters to permit an effective design for replacement of the existing linkspan facility.
Further over-water works utilising a vibrocorer were undertaken on the berth and approach routes to inform parameters for dredging and associated Marine Scotland Licencing.
SCALASAIG
The works at Scalasaig (2022) involved land-based rotary-drilled boreholes to profile rockhead and recover high quality rock core samples for inspection and testing. This provided the client’s team with parameters to permit an effective design for replacement of the existing linkspan facility.
Further over-water works were undertaken utilising a vibrocorer on the berth and approach routes to inform parameters for dredging and associated Marine Scotland Licencing.
PORT ELLEN TERMINAL
The works at Port Ellen (2022) involved both land-based works and utilising our bespoke temporary works system cantilever access platform rotary drilled boreholes. This allowed us to profile rockhead and recover high quality soil and rock core samples for inspection and testing. These provided the client’s team with parameters to permit an effective design for replacement of the existing linkspan facility and assess the viability of the existing quay walls / 3rd party berthing structures.
Further over-water works were undertaken utilising a vibrocorer on the berth and approach routes to inform parameters for dredging and associated Marine Scotland Licencing.
2ND PHASE AT PORT ELLEN
Following on from the 2022 campaign of drilling at Port Ellen we undertook an extensive campaign of over water ground investigation via a Jack Up Barge supporting drilling plant for the proposed larger scale re-development of the Port Ellen facility. This incorporated a significant enlargement of the berthing facilities and associated materials, handling and marshalling areas.
These works required boreholes drilled in shallow water, deep water in navigation channels and working around the day-to-day ferry berth operations and 3rd party vessels all providing a lifeline service to the island.
