In 2015, James Fisher Marine Services* completed a two-month Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) survey and identification campaign on the Hinkley Point C project on behalf of its client, Costain.
The Hinkley Point C project was given the go-ahead for construction in 2014, with final funding agreed in the summer of 2016. The nuclear project – the UK’s first new nuclear power station for over 20 years - is a huge step forward in the UK’s drive to become energy self-sufficient.
*A JF Subtech legacy brand
The challenge
- Located on the Bristol Channel, where strong tides and poor visibility are present, work on the Hinkley Point C project provided some challenging conditions for JF Subtech’s specialist UXO team to work in.
The solution
- JF Subtech deployed a dive vessel with specialist UXO and survey divers to investigate pre-identified anomalies, and to ensure the site was clear of UXOs.
- Equipped with tools for de-burial, JF Subtech’s specialist team enabled the client to undertake an in-depth inspection of the previously identified anomalies in accordance with ALARP.
The results and benefits
- Throughout the works, upwards of 34 potential UXO targets were located and inspected whilst contending with the poor visibility and fast currents.
- The completion of the works and the issue of the UXO clearance certificate marked an important milestone for the pre-engineering works for the site.
