The South Gare breakwater has stood for more than 150 years, providing safe entry to the River Tees for thousands of vessels each year and withstanding the might of the North Sea.
The manmade structure – built by PD Ports’ predecessors between 1863 and 1884 – was badly damaged during Storm Babet in 2023.
Due to the effects of climate change, we anticipate more storms at the level of Babet in the years to come.
PD Ports, as Statutory Harbour Authority for the River Tees and the Port of Hartlepool, has committed, subject to board approval, to repairing and upgrading the structure to ensure it continues to protect Teesport for many years to come.
Due to the scale of the works required, which will require extensive planning, research and design work, it is not anticipated that any long-term upgrade works will take place until at least 2026-27.
However – to make sure the structure stands strong this coming winter, maintenance engineering to the breakwater is currently taking place and will continue over the summer.
The proposals:
PD Ports engineers, working with specialist contractors, have carried out in-depth surveys of the breakwater, including dive and bathymetric surveys, to get a full understanding of its construction and how it is impacted by the waves.
Early proposals are to strengthen the structure by placing tonnes of high-density rocks around the base, to disperse the energy from the volume of water directly hitting it.
To test the design works, scale models of the structure will be built in a tank that will simulate the type and power of waves anticipated in the coming decades.
Frans Calje, chief executive officer of PD Ports, said: “The South Gare breakwater stood strong in the face of the waves for more than 150 years – we aim to strengthen it for the next 150.
“The storms and sea conditions that we are seeing now are far beyond what the structure was built to withstand.
“This is a long-term piece of work, it will be many months before we are in a position to confirm any final designs and methods of construction.
“In the meantime, we will continue to maintain the structure and ensure it’s ready for whatever the next winter period may bring.
“South Gare is a vital piece of infrastructure for River Tees and the wider economy of Teesside – we must be sure we get it right for the long-term .”
Find out more about PD Ports’ responsibilities as Statutory Harbour Authority: https://www.pdports.co.uk/mar…/statutory-harbour-authority