Pier works progress

A key component of the Lochmaddy pier improvement works sailed into harbour in the early hours of Friday, 9th September.

Christened ‘Bloca Loch nam Madadh’ by pupils of Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath, the huge, hollow concrete caisson measures 12 by 12.5 by 33 metres and weighs in at a hefty 3,200 tonnes. The structure was manufactured in Belfast and was towed the 235 miles to its new home by two boats, the Voe Earl and the Voe Jarl.

The caisson is known as a ‘mulberry extension’ after the mobile harbours designed for the Normandy landings in 1944, and allows the pier extension to be constructed elsewhere and floated into place. A spokesperson for contractors George Leslie explained: “We could have chosen to build the pier extension on site, but it would have meant shutting down the pier during construction. By building the caisson in dry dock, we can allow ferries to continue to operate.”

The caisson is positioned at high tide and allowed to sink into place with the lowering tide. Once in position, its hollow structure in filled to permanently anchor it in place.

The caisson marks an important next step in the troubled £15.3m development project that will ensure Lochmaddy Pier is ready for the new ferry due to replace the MV Hebrides when it finally takes over the Skye triangle service.

The Lochmaddy development project started in 2020, and was twice delayed, firstly by Covid and then when the £10.1m contract was suspended when the original developer L&M Keating Ltd went into liquidation.

In February of this year, a new contract was negotiated with George Leslie Ltd for all civil engineering works for the harbour upgrade project, including the extension and strengthening of the pier, upgraded fendering, seabed dredging, land reclamation and extended marshalling and parking areas.
Construction works started in March 2022 and are due for completion in spring 2023. CalMac will continue to operate ferry services during the works.