The official engineering designers for the 2012 Olympics have been chosen to design the new £5 million Milford Dock Lock.

Milford Haven Port Authority has announced it’s selected Atkins as the engineering consultants for the European funding backed project from a short list of six companies.

New lock gates are to be designed and installed at Milford Marina over the next two years, transforming the way the Marina can be accessed and boosting marine tourism and business in Milford Haven. The new lock gates, which will be constructed inside the existing lock, will offer sailors a 24-hour locking service compared to the limited current access.

“Progress on the Dock Lock Project is running to programme with the appointment of Atkins at the beginning of this year.  We are on target for improved access to the Docks and Marina before the end of 2013”.  Said Andrew Brown, Engineering Director, Milford Haven Port Authority.

Representatives from Atkins and MHPA have held their first meeting to discuss the programme of work, with particular attention to the possible disturbance to the operations of the Docks/Marina.

Commenting on their appointment Derek Fenn, chief engineer at Atkins, said: "Atkins is delighted to be chosen as the designer for this prestigious and technically demanding project. We will draw on our team of expert staff from across the UK to ensure that the new lock gates are designed and built with minimal disturbance to dock shipping.”

The initial site investigations are expected to take place in late April and these will include taking samples from the bottom of the existing lock entrance channel. Detailed design, and careful planning of the works will take place over the summer. There will then be a thorough tender process to appoint an experienced contractor later this year to build and install the new lock gates. 

Building the new lock is part of a major investment undertaken by the Port Authority to make Milford Marina one of the top marine leisure destinations.

The development is part of Visit Wales' Coastal Tourism Project, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, to encourage tourism along the Welsh coastline.

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Photo Caption: Derek Fenn, Chief Engineer at Atkins (left) with Andrew Brown, Engineering Director for Milford Haven Port Authority (right) at Milford Dock Lock.  Please attribute copyright to “Pembrokeshire Photography”.

Notes to Editors

For further information please contact Rachel Hicks or Adrian Lort-Phillips at Radiant Media on 01646 650195 or email presssoffice@radiantmedia.co.uk

Milford Haven Port Authority
Milford Haven Port Authority is responsible for the biggest port in Wales, and the third largest port in the UK, handling over 65m gross tons of shipping which amounted to nearly 43m tonnes of cargo during 2010. One of the most prominent on the West Coast, it is in the heart of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the only Coastal National Park in Great Britain. 

Two Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities on its shores mean that a potential 30% of the UK's gas requirements will be processed through the Port.  With 25% of the UK's petrol and diesel provisions already being handled on the Waterway, Milford Haven is fast becoming the new energy capital of the UK.

Milford Haven Port Authority is a trust port –an independent, commercially run organisation that has statutory responsibilities governed by its Acts, to maintain and improve navigation and the provision of Port and Harbour services and facilities.  All profits are retained within the Authority to fund these objectives. 

For further information, visit www.mhpa.co.uk.