Number 1 Berth – Eastern Docks
© Nigel Thornton
Berth 1 at the Eastern Docks (ED1) was designed and installed by MacGregor-Navire (MGN). It was designed to be capable of servicing a wide range of vessels including freight only RoRo’s and car/passenger ferries.
Nigel Thornton Collection
The berth was manufactured under supervision at the North Sands yard of North East Shipbuilders, floated and towed into Dover, by tug GRAGSIDER, on 15th June 1987. The design of the berth was somewhat unique in that the portal was mounted upon and supported by a pontoon. The idea was that the whole installation could be moved to another site if required.
Cragsider – © Ken Lubi (01/04/1986)
© Ken Larwood (all)
Technical Information
On arrival the berth was ballasted down to the prepared foundation and operationally tested, ie charging and discharging a vessel under different tidal conditions. The linkspan is configured for installation at a 90º corner site. The parameters within which it was designed and its principal characteristics are as follows:
- for servicing vessels at bow or stern, with or without own ramps and with bulbous or non-bulbous bows
- for thresholds of 2.3m to 17m above the Dover datum and beams between 16m/34m width
- for a maximum working gradient of 1.8m
- for two simultaneous traffic lanes
- no interruption of load cycle in (a) wave heights of 2m (b) vertical movement bow/stern of plus or minus 0.8m and (c) in list or roll of 5º
- capable of (a) the full HA loading or (b) 45 units of HB or (c) two lanes of 38 tonne HGV’s closely spaced in convoy. In addition the design ramp capacity incorporates the loadings due to high wind and snow
Principal Dimensions
- Pontoon: 54m long x 20m wide
- Main bridge ramp: 60m long (from shore side and hinge to seaward flap) x 9.9m/15.0m wide over splayed end.
- Clear roadway: 6.7m between kerbs
- Independently operated seaward flaps: 7.4m long (inc finger flaps)
- Shore ramp: 7.0m long (inc. finger flaps) x 9.9m wide.
- Overall dimensions of whole unit in situ: 72m long x 24m wide (both dimensions as measured from the respective quay face).
- Passenger walkway: 1.75m wide (runs parallel to the vehicle ramp).
- Light weight, including ramps: 780 tonnes.
- Pontoon ballast capacity (seawater): 2,740 tonnes.
The machinery room mounted atop the portal structure, houses the electrically driven wire rope winch system by means of which the ramp is supported and vertically adjusted. Hydraulic power is proved by two pumping units both located in the winch house. One is for finger-flap operation, and the other for winch brake operation. Both units incorporate a standby pump.
The Berth In Operation
Stena Scandinavica © Ken Larwood (left) and Dover Ferry Photos Library (right)
Argo © Mike Jackson (left) and Saint Patrick II © Nigel Thornton (right)
Seafreight Freeway © Bob Scott (left) and Stena Invicta © Ken Larwood (right)
The high speed vessel’s SpeedOne (left) and the Norman Arrow (right) loading at berth 1 © Ray Goodfellow
The European Endeavour (left) and the Norman Bridge (right) seen loading at berth 1 © Ray Goodfellow
A case of ‘little and large’ on berth 1. To the left the Cote D’Albatre and to the right the Spirit of Britain © Ray Goodfellow
Norman Trader (left) and the European Endeavour (right) © Nigel Thornton
October 16th 2020:
DDS Demolition – Project Award
“Demolition of Dover Cargo Terminal, Passenger Services Building and Berth 1.”
“Following a competitive tender, DDS Demolition is proud to once more work with the Port of Dover on the next phase of improvement works to the Eastern Docks.
The former Dover Cargo Terminal building, Passenger Services Building and Berth 1 will be demolished to make way for the installation of new traffic lanes and check-ins for the ferries.
The demolition of 33 year old Berth 1 is particularly interesting – with a weight of approximately 804 tonnes, DDS has devised a very specific method of deconstruction and dismantling.”
Source: DDS Demolition
April/May 2021: Demolition commenced.
© Paul Wells & Mike Jackson (as noted)
June 29th 2021: Tug JAN LEENHEER and the Bonn & Mees sheerleg crane barge MATADOR 3 arrived in Dover. The crane will lift the redundant ED1 linkspan berth onto the quayside for recycling on the site where the old Dover Cargo Terminal was situated.
© Dover Strait Shipping (Dover, 29/06/2021)
🆕 © Mike Jackson (01/07/2021 – 30/07/2021)
All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Dover Strait Shipping, The Port of Dover, Mike Jackson, Ken Larwood, Bob Scott and Paul Wells for their assistance in producing this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
