Neway Completes Major Pumping Operation for Dock Project

(LIVERPOOL CITY REGION, UK)  MARINE and waterways pumps specialist Neway has played a key role controlling vast quantities of water during the refurbishment of Liverpool dock entrances.

Ellesmere Port-based Neway helped remove and refill three million tonnes of water in a series of demanding pumping operations at Langton Lock. It worked as a contractor to Cammell Laird on the refurbishment project.

Neway group managing director Peter Sinkinson said the pumping work enabled engineers to get access to watertight lock gates, known as caissons, which had to be swapped to allow refurbishment work on one. The caissons let ships pass through different water levels between docks and the tidal River Mersey.

Mr Sinkinson said: “The complex project showcased Neway’s unique offer – a complete pump solution combining the latest, most-efficient equipment with specialist staff support to manage the entire pumping process. We deliver results and our dependability is rock-solid.

“Neway’s approach is more cost and time-efficient for customers. This is because we differ from many pump hire firms, which tend to have older, slower equipment and do not offer specialist staff to manage projects on-site.

“As a result, their customers waste time finding pump staff and then managing them, all at additional expense. Furthermore there can be uncertainty about contracted staff’s level of experience and expertise, whereas Neway’s pump staff are some of the most experienced and best qualified in industry.”

Mr Sinkinson said Langton Lock is divided into three sections with caissons between. In the first phase, the outer gate, weighing 1,600 tonnes, was detached and removed from its recess, then manoeuvred and moored at the other end.

Then a 4,000-tonne middle gate, refurbished two years ago, was floated and repositioned to the outer recess. The outer caisson was then floated to a refurbishment recess, which later had to be emptied.

Mr Sinkinson said Neway supplied a ballast water pumping system to raise and lower the lock gates when needed. It further removed water from the refurbishment recess to create a dry-dock environment for engineers to refurbish the caisson.

Neway engineers monitored the pumping full-time and the whole project was strictly timed to minimise port disruption.

Neway managing director Wayne Sides said the company is actively targeting winning pump management work across many industries. He added: "We believe we offer the best pump solutions in Britain. Few companies can match our calibre of equipment, expertise, efficiency and support. We currently work across Britain and Europe on rivers, ports, shipyards, docks, canals or any environment where water needs to be controlled."