Case Study
Manufacture and Delivery of OLAF & ILAF structures for Hinkley Point C
OVERVIEW
Balfour Beatty are delivering one of the most complex marine engineering projects currently taking place worldwide, to support the construction of the first new nuclear power station built in the UK in more than 20 years. The project will see the construction of three tunnels under the seabed that will supply the two reactors at Hinkley Point C with cooling water and then discharge it back into the Bristol Channel.
Between 2020 and 2022 Malin, in partnership with Caley Ocean Systems, manufactured eight lifting frame structures for the Hinkley Point C project, on behalf of Balfour Beatty. The structures were primarily fabricated from steel pipe and plate, with each element of the structure split into special, primary, and secondary categories which determine what grade of steel should be used on the structure (special S690 & X70, primary S355, secondary S275).
In addition, each structure was individually customised to enable it to be fitted to a specific set of cast in concrete lifting lugs on site. The project also included several access platforms and seafastening frames, with the former mounted on top of the frames and the latter used to secure the structure to a barge for transportation to Avonmouth.
Malin were also responsible for the marine transportation of the structures, which included load-out using Self Propelled Modular Trailers (SPMTs), sea-fastening engineering, tug and barge chartering, and marine operations.
All structures were built to BS EN 1090 Execution Class 4, and DNV standard DNVGL-OS-C401, verified by an onsite surveyor. In order to complete the build to this standard, ten new weld procedures were created which all comply with C401. The project was to CDM regulations.
Client: Caley Ocean Systems / Balfour Beatty
Project: Hinkley Point C – OLAF & ILAF Structures
Cargo: 2 × OLAF, 4 × ILAF and 2 × Guide Frames – total project cargo 1,116Te
Route: Renfrew → Avonmouth
Transport: SPMT load-out and tug & barge marine transportation
Services: Fabrication, heavy transport engineering, SPMT operations, sea-fastening, tug and barge chartering and marine operations