VolkerStevin to upgrade Mare Harbour

VolkerStevin has been awarded a £19 million contract by the UK’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to upgrade Mare Harbour, the UK government announced on 22 March.

The contract includes design, construction and associated costs as well as a facility to cater for larger vessels, with roll-on roll-off capability for the Falkland Islands Resupply Ship. The project is scheduled to be completed in September 2017 and the upgrades will support and facilitate secure mooring for visiting vessels. The contract also includes a new jetty to support small boat operations.

The project aims to improve military capability in the Falklands, since the current harbour berth has been deemed unsuitable for the class of vessel servicing the islands. The air, naval and land assets in the Falklands include Typhoon fighters, helicopters, naval patrol vessels and an army infantry company.

Rob Coupe, managing director, VolkerStevin, said: ‘We are delighted to be working on the Mare Harbour contract in the Falklands for the DIO. As a specialist in marine construction works, we look forward to working on this design and build project for the roll-on roll-off facility upgrade.

‘We have worked previously with the DIO and are currently working on a similar project with them at Portsmouth so are happy to be able to build on this existing partnership. We’re so pleased to be working as part of this investment to modernise military infrastructure on the Islands and look forward to starting.’