Engineering group climbs on board for major maritime regeneration project

Hull-based engineering company Spencer Group is delivering a new permanent base for a historic vessel as part of a major regeneration project in its home city.

Spencer Group has won the contract to build a wet berth for the Spurn Lightship, in Hull Marina.

The new dock for the vessel will form an important part of the Hull City Council-led Hull Maritime project. The £30m city-wide cultural regeneration scheme will celebrate and preserve Hull’s rich maritime heritage.

It involves the refurbishment of the Hull Maritime Museum and the restoration of two historic ships – the Arctic Corsair and the Spurn Lightship.

The lightship was built in 1927 and served for 48 years as a navigation aid in the approaches of the Humber Estuary. It was decommissioned in 1975 before being bought by Hull City Council and moved to Hull Marina as a museum.

It has been closed since 2018 but is now expected to reopen in its new home in the north-west corner of the marina next summer.

Richard Green-Morgan, construction director for Spencer Group, said: “We’re pleased to have been awarded the contract to provide the wet berth for the Spurn Lightship.

“We’re excited to be a part of the transformative Hull Maritime project in our home city and proud to aid the return of the iconic Spurn Lightship vessel to the marina, for residents and visitors to enjoy.

“We hope to carry out some early investigation works before Christmas, with the main works beginning in January.”

Works will include dredging of the berthing area and installation of five mooring piles and a concrete bankseat, as well as a steel walkway to allow access onto the lightship once it has been moved into place.

The majority of the works will be carried out from floating pontoons.

Work to restore the lightship is in its final stages and is expected to be complete in the coming months. The ship will then move to a temporary home on the marina until the new dock is scheduled to be complete next spring.

National Highways, which is carrying out major improvements to the A63 Castle Street route in and out of Hull, has awarded Hull City Council over £1m through its Designated Funds programme for the delivery of the wet berth.

Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: “The appointment of Spencer Group is excellent news and an important step for the Hull Maritime project.

“Work will get underway shortly and, once complete, the lightship will open for visitors again for everyone to enjoy and explore in its new home.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close