The Port of Cardiff is currently having its outer lock gates replaced. The former outer lock gates are then being refurbished and installed into the middle position; as the existing middle gates are at the end of their life.
At the port of Swansea, the inner lock gates will both be replaced with new gates. Work will be completed at both ports in December 2019.
Andrew Harston, Director, ABP Wales & Short Sea Ports said: “The ports of Swansea and Cardiff are important pieces of infrastructure for both local and national trade. The engineering programme has been designed to allow ships to enter and leave the port during the works in order to ensure our customers experience minimal disruption.”
“This major investment will ensure the ports busy shipping programmes can operate as efficiently as possible for many more years to come and forms part of a wider project to ensure we’re constantly exceeding the needs of our customers.”
The seven estuary has the second highest tidal range in the world which makes port lock gates a vital piece of infrastructure. The gates support a chamber of water that helps control water levels and allows vessels to be raised or lowered between differing water levels for them to safely enter the port. It is vital that lock gates are watertight.
ABP Wales & Short Sea Ports own and operate 16 ports around the UK, which annually handle of 20 million tonnes of cargo.
