Battling zero visibility, strong tides, sub zero temperatures the works were finally completed in December 2011 in the centre of one of the UKs most busiest shipping channels.

The work involved 2 teams of divers working 24hrs to enable them to dive every six hours at the slack water period to enable the fronded mats to be laid safely in position. Areas of pipe which had become severely scoured were built up with 50mm stone to 200mm above the pipe level to enable the concrete fronded mats to be laid over the pipe. Within 24 hours of the fronded mats being laid the divers were reporting that 100 - 200mm of natural deposits had already been deposited by the fronds with the 150mm concrete mattress this gave 250mm of protection within 24hrs.

What is Scour (Subsea Protection Systems)?

The displacement of sand, silt and soil on the seabed is known as scour. The forces of nature are relentlessly at work worldwide reshaping beaches, rivers and sea beds.

Currents, tides and storms work adversely within these environments causing erosion. This problem allows currents to increase in velocity locally, with the supporting sediment around structures eroding creating stress points. In time the effect of this scour will result in the possible collapse or breakage of such structures.