Commissioned by Stena Line Ports Ltd at the Port of Holyhead, we supplied and installed a robust, heavy-duty pontoon and gangway system to support daily pilot and tug operations.
| Client | Stena Line |
| Date | April 2025 |
| Where | Port of Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales |
The project involved the supply and installation of a 50m x 3m Heavy-Duty pontoon system, complete with a 27m access gangway and 5 x H-piles securely fixed to the quay wall.
Located at the heart of the busy Port of Holyhead, this floating infrastructure now serves as a reliable and stable access platform for crews working on pilot and tug vessels, and replaces traditional ladder-based access with a modern “walk-to-work” solution – dramatically improving safety and usability for crews who access vessels multiple times each day.
The primary goal was to eliminate the need for vertical access via ladders mounted to the granite quay wall – a method that posed significant safety and logistical challenges, especially in adverse weather or tidal conditions. The new installation enables safe, direct access from land to vessel, improving both efficiency and crew welfare.
One of the project’s main technical challenges was working with the historic granite quay wall, whose uneven structure required bespoke adjustments and finishing to ensure secure pile fixing and alignment. Careful on-site adaptation and coordination ensured a seamless interface between the modern pontoon system and the existing heritage infrastructure.
The new installation offers non-slip GRP decking on both gangway and pontoon and a stable, high-freeboard platform at 750mm, purpose-built for high-use marine operations. In addition, the completed project will ensure improved access, removing the need for use of long climbs and descents on ladders on the quay wall.
