Project: South Queensferry Harbour Repairs
Product: NATCEM® 35
Client: City of Edinburgh Council
Main Contractor: Southbay Civil Engineering
South Queensferry Harbour, a Category B listed structure owned and managed by the City of Edinburgh Council, was identified as needing bespoke repairs to address concerns around structural stability and public safety. Following a thorough condition report, Southbay Civil Engineering was contracted to perform these critical repairs in collaboration with the council as well as their design partner.
Working closely with the council and design partners, Southbay Civil Engineering identified the most cost-effective repair solutions. However, the project required careful material selection, due to the harsh marine environment and the harbour’s listed status. Natural Cement products were chosen for their durability and compatibility with the marine setting.
Marine Growth Removal:
Initially, marine growth was cleared to conduct a detailed defect survey, which helped define the scope of repointing works needed.
Repointing Works:
Subsequently, existing joints were carefully raked and cleaned. Moreover, repointing of brickwork was completed using NATCEM® 35.
NATCEM® 35, an environmentally friendly as well as fast-setting mortar, was integral to this project. It offers rapid strength gain and is highly resistant to seawater, making it ideal for marine environments. It can be applied up to any thickness from a minimum of 10mm, ensuring versatility and reliability for the repairs.
Due to the harbour’s proximity to the town centre and limited site access, a bespoke traffic management plan was essential. As such, the project team implemented several key measures to ensure safe and efficient operations:
Firstly, suitable roads were identified for plant and vehicle access.
In addition, a small site compound was constructed within a nearby public car park, helping to minimise vehicle movement through pedestrian areas.
To comply with the North Pier’s limited loading capacity, a 5-tonne mini crane was used instead of heavier equipment.
Despite the above challenges, the project was successfully completed. Crucially, this was achieved through strong collaboration between Southbay Civil Engineering, the City of Edinburgh Council, and design partners. As a result, the works ensured the long-term stability of the harbour and safeguarded public access.
Southbay Civil Engineering specialise in Civil Engineering construction and Design & Build contracts in marine environments. Over the years, they have built a reputation for delivering robust solutions in challenging coastal settings. In particular, their experience with NATCEM® products allows them to offer reliable and sustainable approaches to marine construction.
All things considered, this was a successful yet demanding project. Special thanks go to everyone involved for their commitment, adaptability, and teamwork throughout.
If your company are interested in receiving training on Natural Cement’s Concrete Repair & Waterproofing systems or becoming an approved applicator, please contact our office:
t: 01226 381133
Date added: 22/05/2024