Hinkley Point C - Temporary Jetty Steel Piles

A 3,2000 MWe nuclear power station with two EPR reactors is being constructed in Somerset, England. The EDF Energy board approved the project in July 2016 and it was 1 of the 8 nuclear power station projects announced by the UK government in 2010. The power station alongside the nearby new Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station is expected to contribute over 13% of the UK's electricity in the decade of 2020.

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A scope of work in the construction of the nuclear power station was for a temporary jetty for ships to deliver sand, aggregate and cement for concrete production. Having the ability to use this jetty would reduce the amount of road transport of materials by over 80%, in hopes to minimize disruption to local communities.

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ESC's scope of work awarded by Edgen Murray Europe was to form and fabricate a series of steel pipe piles, some of which were acting as dolphins and some to support the berthing island decking. The pipe diameters ranged from 914mm and 1778mm all at 25mm thickness. Lengths also varied between 4.0m up to 19.398m. Steel grades utilised included S355J2+N (including Z35 through thickness), S420M and S460M.

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The design incorporated 4 grouting pipes spanning the from top all the way to a different set of levels, a series of internal and external shear rings and temporary padeyes for safe lifting with a project specific spreader beam. 

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Fabricator qualifications required for this project included: CE certification, EN1011-1 & 2, EN 1090-2 (EXC3), EN 10029: alongside additional client requirements.

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The project was successfully completed in October 2016, where the piles arrived in Somerset UK.