The Freetown Port Expansion project has been shortlisted for International Project of the Year in the Ground Engineering Awards 2024.
The award recognises the geotechnical excellence of projects that stand out on the international stage, with credentials in sustainability, health and safety, and value engineering.
The Freetown Port Expansion project saw the construction of a new berth in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Beckett Rankine planned, designed, and managed the construction of the berth on behalf of NSBT, working closely with Nectar Group, Eiffage Genie Civil Marine and A-squared Studio Engineers.
The project demonstrates how substantial modern port construction projects can be achieved in developing West Africa, utilising creative and sustainable solutions in the face of multiple geotechnical, global and local challenges.
Several geotechnical design elements were used, including a steel cofferdam, dredging and reclamation campaign, hydraulic filling, rock revetments and ground improvement.
Many challenges were presented by the complicated ground conditions, combined with the local environment limiting the availability of plant and skill sets, materials and overall climate conditions.
However, these challenges allowed for unique innovations to develop a project that was overall flexible and simple to construct within the constraints of the project budget and timescales.
Gemma Turner, Principal Geotechnical Engineer at Beckett Rankine, said, “It is fantastic to be shortlisted for this award and receive recognition for the Freetown Port Expansion’s geotechnical engineering excellence. International projects of this nature, in the face of multifaceted challenges on local and global scales, can offer unique opportunities to explore creative solutions. We’re proud of the high-quality geotechnical expertise we provide our clients to ensure they receive the best possible outcomes for their maritime infrastructure.”
More information on the Ground Engineering Awards 2024
More information on the Freetown Port Expansion
