Aggregate Industries and Bennett’s Barges welcome new vessels to London’s River Thames

UK construction materials giant 1707 Aggregate Industries, through its joint venture with Bennett’s Barges, has welcomed the first of its new vessels which will add huge tonnage to the River Thames as part of the long-term Thames Tideway Tunnel project, primarily based at the Carnwath Road Riverside construction site in London, South East England.

Bennett’s Barges’ role on the 25km tunnel project, is to remove the spoil produced by the tunnelling process. Bennett’s Barges are working for the 8120 BAM Nuttall, Morgan Sindall and 6745 Balfour Beatty joint venture which is delivering the 7km west section of the tunnel.

As part of its commitment to this project, the Aggregate Industries and Bennett’s Barges joint venture has procured eight specialist barges to carry the spoil along the river. Bennett’s Barges will also be employing and training up to 24 marine operatives, including a number of Skippers, to operate the fleet. The joint venture has also procured two new state-of-the-art tugs, with an innovative rising bridge, designed specifically for this project and crewed by boat masters from Bennett’s Barges.

The first of the new 1,500tonne capacity barges, Churchill, recently completed its voyage to London and was immediately put to work, followed shortly by the arrival of a new 1,000tonne capacity barge, Phoebe. All barges will be operational by April 2018.

With six more new barges soon to join the fleet, the work is well underway, ensuring an efficient removal of spoil at the required rate in a safe and environmentally friendly way.