Sunderland sea defences strengthened with rock from Norway

The granite boulders are being unloaded at Greenwell's Quay and stored until transferral into their final destination at Stonehill Wall and Hendon Foreshore Barrier.

They began their voyage from Larvik in south-west Norway on Tuesday 12 July 2022 and were shipped on the Stema II Barge. It arrived in the port on Monday 18 July.

Read more: South Street Durham gas works to cause 13 weeks' disruption

Sunderland City Council runs the Port of Sunderland and has an ongoing programme of works to strengthen and help protect the port’s estate against sea erosion and damage.

The works have a budget of more than £3m and will see nearly 400 metres (1,200ft) of new rock armour revetment for the port’s sea defences at Stonehill Wall and the Hendon Foreshore Barrier. Norwegian rock is regularly used in UK sea defences because of its strength, durability and cost-effective shipping.

Stema II Barge has brought in 24,5000 tonnes of rock boulders and they will be placed in front of the exiting sea walls to form a rock revetment. This is an inclined rock embankment that dissipates wave energy and helps reduce overtopping.

From left City Council Coastal Group Engineer Peter Routledge, City Council Cabinet Member for Dynamic City, Councillor Kevin Johnston and Port of Sunderland Business Development Manager, Andrew Foster.

Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet Member for Dynamic City, Councillor Kevin Johnston said: "As well as our marine trade and traffic, both importing and exporting goods and materials, we’re continuing to see new businesses invest on the port’s estates.

"The port is a key part of our city’s infrastructure and these new rock revetments are a very cost-effective way for longer-term protection of the port and all its key assets.

"This updating and investing in our city's assets and infrastructure - as part of our bigger City Plan for a more dynamic, healthy and vibrant Sunderland - are always priorities for us as a City Council."

Read more: Arriva bus services in Darlington criticised amid a 'broken system'

The strengthened defences will also help protect a 12-acre port site that is earmarked for a new plastics recycling plant - the first of its kind in the UK - to be operated by Norwegian company Quantafuel.

Port Business Development Manager, Andrew Foster said: "We’re very versatile and flexible with our approach to marine operations and in being able to provide the infrastructure for handling cargoes such as this here at the port.

"The arrival of all of this rock armour is interesting in not only how it is unloading and being stored, but of course how it will become a key part of the infrastructure and the very fabric of the port itself."

Repairs to decking at the Stonehill Wall sea defences that were damaged in the winter and spring storms of 2018 have already been completed.

It now requires 18,900 tonnes of rock for 215m (645ft) of updated revetment. The rocks here will be between one to three tonnes and six to ten tonnes in weight.

Works for Hendon Foreshore Barrier, which helps protect the Northumbrian Water treatment works, require 8,000 tonnes of rock armour for its 175m (574ft) long revetment. The rocks here will be between three and six tonnes in weight.

Works on the port's New South Pier have also been completed following damage in 2018. These works were project winners at the Institution of Civil Engineering (ICE) North East Robert Stephenson Awards 2020.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054