Portsmouth Sea Change

Working in a live operational port presented significant logistical challenges. The project team coordinated closely with port operations to manage vessel schedules, passenger movements and access requirements. With almost 100 cruise ship visits during construction, work areas were regularly demobilised and reinstated to minimise disruption.

The project also involved hydro-demolition of reinforced concrete marine structures at Berths 2, 3 and 4 to create service trenches while retaining existing reinforcement. To protect the sensitive marine environment, the team developed a fully encapsulated hydro-demolition system that prevented water, debris and contaminants from entering the port ecosystem.

This approach enabled precise concrete removal while reducing noise and vibration compared with traditional demolition methods.

The project achieved a 43/45 Considerate Constructors Scheme score and was delivered with zero reportable incidents. Success was underpinned by close collaboration between Portsmouth International Port, AtkinsRéalis, ABB and Balfour Beatty's supply chain.

The Balfour Beatty team held several workshops to review buildability and examine areas of savings for the customer, identifying more that £695k in potential savings. This included:

• A £110k saving by proposing the 33Kv route could be realigned to avoid clashes
• A £250k saving by utilising ports power, water and waste to avoid having to dispose of wastewater off-site
• A £50k saving by raising the level of foundations to avoid services

The team also successfully delivered the foundations for Cable Management System (CMS) dispensers to be installed; this system would allow for electrical connection when vessels are berthed. These works included structural connection to the existing berth, bespoke channel installations with millimetre accuracy, and complex reinstatement works including asphalt and drainage. Despite the challenging constraints, the CMS foundations were successfully delivered with a bedding tolerance of just 12mm.

Balfour Beatty delivered an Empower Event at John Jenkins Stadium. The event celebrated women's empowerment and brought together a range of organisations to provide information, support and inspiration to women across Portsmouth. Through discussions on careers in construction and engineering, alongside sessions focused on wellbeing, confidence-building and domestic abuse awareness, attendees were encouraged to explore new opportunities, access support networks and develop greater confidence in their personal and professional futures.

The event provided an opportunity to engage with women from a range of backgrounds and life experiences, many of whom may face barriers to employment, training or progression into traditionally male-dominated industries. By supporting the event, the project team aimed to inspire attendees, showcase diverse career pathways and contribute towards creating a more inclusive and supportive community environment within Portsmouth.

Promoting opportunities within construction and engineering required challenging long-standing perceptions about the industry. Many women may not traditionally view engineering or infrastructure as a career option, despite the wide variety of roles available. The project team focused on sharing real-life experiences and demonstrating the breadth of opportunities available across project management, engineering, environmental disciplines, commercial functions and operational roles.

Balfour Beatty supported the port’s Ocean Race STEM Day, delivering interactive educational activities that engaged approximately 230 primary school pupils from across the city. Designed to inspire the next generation of engineers, innovators and problem-solvers, the event introduced young people to the exciting world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics through hands-on activities and live demonstrations.

By providing students with the opportunity to interact with industry professionals and emerging technologies, the event helped broaden aspirations and raise awareness of future career opportunities linked to engineering, sustainability and infrastructure.

The Ocean Race STEM Day provided a platform to inspire pupils through real-world examples of innovation and engineering. The objective was not only to deliver a memorable educational experience but also to help young people understand how science and technology are applied in everyday projects that improve communities and protect the environment. Through participation in the event, Balfour Beatty sought to encourage curiosity, support future career aspirations and strengthen links between industry and local schools.