Mackley has recently commenced work to repair and extend the slipway at the RNLI Portsmouth lifeboat station.
The inshore lifeboat at Portsmouth has provided search and rescue cover for the eastern Solent for 40 years – and, with 100 shouts a year, is the 10th busiest RNLI station.
The works are set to take 16 weeks to complete, weather permitting, and will see Mackley upgrade the slipway by resurfacing the existing concrete slab and extending its length.
The refurbished slipway, which will be approximately 10m longer than the existing structure, will consist of ground-bearing in-situ reinforced concrete elements and new permanent piles.
New drainage, handrails and replacement of some of the gabions will complete the project.
During construction, a sheet piled cofferdam will be built to enclose the area from the sea, prior to the new, extended slipway being installed. This will be encased by new sheet piles which will be driven in using a movax.
For the duration of the works, the Portsmouth lifeboats will be kept at Southsea Marina and launched using an alternative slipway located further south from the RNLI lifeboat station.
The works are part of a wider RNLI project to maintain, improve and rebuild lifeboat stations – to accommodate new classes of lifeboats, update crew facilities and ultimately, to ensure an effective lifesaving service.
31 July 2019
