Mace appointed on Associated British Ports projects

The international construction and consultancy company, Mace, has been appointed to several major Associated British Ports (ABP) projects, deepening the company’s expertise in the UK ports industry.

Mace has been appointed through ABP’s Group Professional Services Framework and will provide a range of services, including project management, cost and commercial advisory, project support and site supervision.

The consultancy arm of the business has won work on a number of professional services contracts for schemes across ABP, including at the ports of Immingham, Southampton, Lowestoft and Plymouth, as well as a further project in Newport in Wales.

Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro (roll-on roll-off) terminal in North East Lincolnshire is a major project involving the construction of a new Ro-Ro facility within the eastern side of the port, which will include the creation of two new harbour berths. On this project, which is set to complete in 2025, Mace will provide contract administration, cost management and scheduling services. Once complete, the works will allow increase capacity between the UK’s east coast and continental Europe, predominantly for the freight market, giving more options and supply chain resilience for British businesses.

The Port of Southampton project focuses on the expansion of the existing container-to-rail facility in the Western Docks, taking more trucks off the road, reducing emissions and improving air quality. The project will involve an expansion of the existing rail terminal at the dock alongside extending the existing rail loading platform. The finished project will include new access points for HGVs and new site offices at one of the UK’s largest ports. Here Mace’s work will include project management, scheduling, cost management, contract administration and site supervision.

Mace’s work at the Port of Lowestoft, otherwise known as the LEEF (Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility) project, will focus on the redevelopment of the Suffolk port’s Outer Harbour. This redevelopment will support offshore windfarms by providing an additional three service operation vessel berths and six crew transfer vessel berths, alongside six acres of land to support the operations and maintenance stages servicing the offshore energy industry. The project positions Lowestoft as a key hub for handling larger, greener vessels together with growing more good jobs. On this project, Mace will provide contract administration, cost management and scheduling services.

Additionally, the win on Millbay Ferry terminal in Plymouth will involve delivering a RIBA Stage 3 developed design for the terminal facilities, with upgrades agreed to improve the older existing infrastructure. Mace will provide contract administration, cost management and scheduling services to provide new facilities, aimed to improve the experience of the terminal’s users. The project at Millbay includes creating a new passenger boarding bridge system to connect vessels with the terminal building, updating the existing Ro-Ro ramp and refurbishing part of the historic West Wharf to support ferry operation activities. The upgrades will have a significant impact as part of wider plans to make the facility a key strategic port and cruise terminal with the ability to handle more international freight.

Sean Gray, Director of Transportation, Mace, said:

“It’s been an exciting time for our ports team, with these latest wins marking a sizeable expansion in our portfolio.

“Our team will combine their practical delivery experience in the transportation sector with localised knowledge to provide fresh thinking to deliver the projects successfully. We are looking forward to playing our part in delivering these projects which will leave a lasting positive legacy for their users and wider communities.”

Sahir Rahim, Group Head of Contracts and Cost Management, ABP said:

“As the UK’s leading port owner and operator with 21 ports around Britain, the Group Professional Services Framework was procured to strengthen ABP’s ability to deliver our core business as well as our strategic plan. This drives our mission to support our customers in ‘Keeping Britain Trading’.

“Building long-term collaborative relationships with our Consultant’s through the Group Professional Services Framework is vital to support ABP’s core teams across a portfolio of varied project development and delivery opportunities. This Framework is critical to enable us to achieve our strategic growth objectives whilst improving ABP’s project management and technical capability, focusing on safety in everything we do, being considerate to the environment and sensitive in our development within our regions.”