Drawing on 60 years of experience, ABP Marine Environmental Research (ABPmer) provides specialist marine environmental research and consultancy services.
UK Dredging (UKD) operates the largest British-owned dredging fleet and specialises in the provision of reliable and cost effective port maintenance dredging services.
The D-Day Whale bridge, a vital component of the Mulberry harbours used during the Normandy landings in 1944, has been carefully lifted from its current position near the Red Funnel terminal in Southampton prior to be transported to Marchwood Military Port.
Many of the floating roadway sections, known as a Whale bridge, played a crucial role in enabling Allied forces to land vehicles and supplies on the beaches of Normandy. Its return to Marchwood — where it is believed to have been constructed over 80 years ago — marks a significant moment in the preservation of British military heritage.
This week, the operation, coordinated by a specialist team, involved lifting the Whale bridge out of the water using a high-capacity crane. Once safely hoisted, it was placed onto a lorry designed to accommodate its size and weight for transport. The Whale will be transported later this week.
Its destination is Solent Gateway, where the bridge will undergo cleaning and preservation to protect its structure and historical integrity.
Once restored, the bridge will be placed outside the port in Marchwood acting as a gate guardian, making it accessible to the general public for the first time.
Richard Parkinson, Solent Gateway Port Director said: “We are proud to relocate the D-Day Whale Bridge back to Solent Gateway, where it will be preserved for future generations. Returning this historic structure to the military community that originally built it for the D-Day invasion is a way of reconnecting with our past and paying tribute to the extraordinary efforts of those who served.”
Lt Col Tom Goodall, Commanding Officer 17 Port and Maritime Regiment RLC said: We are extremely grateful for all of the incredible work done by ABP to return this historic artifact to Marchwood. It will serve as a poignant reminder of the important role the community played in the Nation's history.
Neil Chapman, Operations Director at Red Funnel, said: “We were pleased to support the relocation of Whale Bridge as part of a collaborative operation between Red Funnel and ABP. Part of Red Funnel’s heritage, Whale Bridge was once used as a Red Funnel linkspan, and we’re delighted to see this historic piece of infrastructure undergo restoration and preservation.”
