The vessels in this new marina will be protected by a large rock breakwater made from the local Portland Stone. The rock must be accurately placed, usually by excavator. This was initially performed from a shore side operation until the water depth prevented the plant from working as the reach was no longer sufficient.

Jenkins Marine were called in to assist, and have chartered their self propelled work barge ‘Doreen Dorward’ to construction company Raymond Brown, the principle contactor for this phase of the works. At 30m by 9m the barge provides a large working platform for heavy machinery whilst retaining a relatively shallow 1.4m draft, a necessity for inshore operations.

Raymond Brown have positioned their 65 ton excavator in the specially designed lower deck area of the barge, which brings it to within approximately 500mm of the water level. This creates an ideal situation where the machine optimises its vertical reach capability. The vessel is equipped with three hydraulically operated spud legs which enable an accurate and stable position to be held. It’s twin 150hp propulsion engines with Schottel- type drive legs (with 360DEGREE steering) facilitate rapid and precise manoeuvring in confined areas, and the large deck superstructure provides an extremely comfortable living and working environment together with a good vantage point to observe and command operations.

Jenkins Marine also have an 8.5m ‘Beaver’ type workboat on charter for this contact, which is used for towing the small ‘feeder’ rock barges to and from the Doreen Dorward, enabling continuous rock placement operations. Approximately 1,500 tons of rock, of up to 4 tons each, is being placed each day on the site, which includes shore side works. Following completion of this charter the Doreen Dorward is scheduled to be used for Jenkins Marine’s dredging operations on the Isle of Wight in the spring.

Over recent years Jenkins Marine has continued to grow, with the addition of both vessels to its fleet and employees to its workforce. The company has completed over a quarter century of marine civils operations, including dredging, construction, surveying, drilling, towage, salvage, and dive support.