Located on the estuary of the River Medway in Kent, Berth No 4 in Sheerness Docks is used by quarter ramp RoRo vessels transporting cars, commercial vehicles and abnormal loads. The existing “underslung framed” steel linkspan bridge was partly immersed in the sea and had become seriously corroded and a new one was needed.

The new orthotropic steel deck linkspan was designed to tender stage by Beckett Rankine and fabricated by Ravestein at their yard in Deest, Holland. Measuring 35.5 metres long and 9.8 metres wide the new linkspan is designed to carry large earth moving trucks weighing up to 120 tonnes.

The new linkspan was floated on a barge from Rotterdam to the Medway and lifted into position using a 250 tonne capacity floating crane. Almost 20 people were involved with the replacement operations and the new linkspan was successfully completed and opened on time.