UK Docks' team helps restore Arbeia Roman Fort herb gardens

A UK Docks team in South Shields has helped the town’s historic, Roman Fort win back herb gardens which became overgrown during the pandemic.

The volunteers made the short trip from River Drive to the fort to spend all day clearing thick brambles, wild fennel and weeds from the former gardens and surrounding areas.

And the hope is that the sweet smell of success will follow in the coming months as the herb gardens at the entrance to the fort site in Baring Street are returned to their former glory.

UK Docks clear overgrown herb gardens at Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort watched by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums staff Alex Croom and August Fenwick

Overseeing the work was Alex Croom, Keeper of Archaeology at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, who said: “It’s great that UK Docks chose us for their latest clean-up.

“It has taken us a big step forward in terms of getting our herb gardens back.

“Herbs were of great importance to the Romans and other cultures at the time when Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort was a fully-functioning garrison and we are looking forward to restoring them.

“In Roman times, herbs like woad were used for dyeing cloths, many others, like comfrey, were used for medicinal purposes and of course, they cultivated the likes of thyme, lovage and rue for cooking.

“Finally, herbs had a ceremonial and religious purpose, which is why we see such plants as roses, violets, rosemary and wormwood”

Digging for victory, UK Docks at Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort 

August Fenwick, customer service assistant at Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort, said: “The extra hands have been a big help because we would have struggled to do it by ourselves.

“We got so much more done because of their collective efforts and there was a great buzz about the place on the day.

“The herb gardens used to be a popular part of a visit to the Fort because straight after coming out of the visitors’ centre you were met by all these lovely aromas.

“It became overgrown during Covid though and it’s lovely to think we might soon have them back - visitors loved them and sometimes asked if they could take a bit of mint or other herbs with them, which we didn’t mind if it gave them a nice memory of their visit.”

Wheelbarrows, forks and spades were at the ready first thing in the morning as office manager, Emma Bryson organised a team which transformed the look and feel of the site by the end of the day, clearing the site and replacing cobblestones.

Emma said: “It was hard work for us all but enjoyable - we got to get out in the fresh air in a beautiful, historic spot and it was good for team spirit and bonding.

“Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort was a great project to work on because the gardens had been an attraction once and it was rewarding to watch it starting to come back to life as we cleared the ground.

“Now we’re looking forward to returning when the gardens are fully restored.”

UK Docks carried out a beach clean of Littlehaven Beach before work at Arbeia and is now planning a full programme of volunteer events among the workforce every other month.

UK Docks welcomes aboard Royal Navy veteran Richard as Vessel Manager

A warm UK Docks Marine Services welcome to new starter Richard Cheel who has joined the company as Vessel Manager based at our offices in South Shields.
Richard, pictured here (left) being welcomed aboard by Technical Manager, John Lally, may be new to the company but he's also a veteran.

He is an ex-Royal Navy marine engineering Warrant Officer with over two decades of service to the country under his belt.
UK Dock has always acknowledged the contributions our serving armed forces bring to commercial organisations like ours and many of our team are ex-service personnel.
Richard becomes the 16th member of staff from the Forces, to be based in our North East offices and we also have four people who have direct relations serving in the armed forces.
The company's commitment to the armed forces was recently recognised with a Silver Award under the Defence Employer’s Recognition Scheme.
The scheme recognises individual company's commitments to the Armed Forces Covenant in their business practices.
We're proud to support the UK's Armed Forces at every opportunity but UK Docks also benefits from the knowledge and expertise people like Richard bring to our business.

UK Docks' teams focus on health and safety

THERE is nothing more important than health and safety in the workplace.

That’s especially relevant in the marine services industry where heavy machinery is continually operated and transported and where there are lots of moving parts at all levels which need to be overseen and safety protocols observed.

Heath and safety when operating all types of heavy machinery must always be of paramount importance.

At UK Docks Marine Services, constant vigilance and efforts to maintain the highest safety standards are at the forefront of our approach and we evolve that year-on-year and adapt to new recommendations and requirements as they emerge.

That’s one of the reasons why, as well as holding accreditation in ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018, UK Docks is a proud member of the Avetta consortium.

Avetta is the supply chain safety and sustainability expert which operates globally to support more than 130,000 contractors and 1.5 million workers.

They provide the foundation for clients, suppliers, contractors, workers and vendors to forge stronger relationships, ensuring safe and sustainable workplaces.

Photograph via Avetta website

Across the world, they enable and verify ongoing safety, environmental, social and financial performance, helping hiring companies build a strong and diverse contractor base wherever they operate.

Our accreditations and memberships underpin our commitment to health and safety, sustainability, quality standards and creating a safer work environment for everyone involved in our businesses.

Nothing is more important than the safety of every member of our team.

# ThinkSafe, #WorkSafe, #HomeSafe.

Royal Navy’s new fleet of workboats to be serviced by UK Docks in Gosport and Cremyll

UK DOCKS has been awarded a £4million contract to service and maintain the Royal Navy’s new fleet of SEA Class Vahana workboats.

The company, which delivers marine services nationwide and supports the navy globally, will run the operation from its Gosport base with work being carried out at Gosport in Portsmouth Harbour and Cremyll in Cornwall.

The Ministry of Defence has received 35 workboats as part of Project Vahana, (an ambitious £48 million modernisation programme of its small boat flotilla), and the vessels have already delivered a whole new range of operational benefits.

HMS Raleigh - one of the fleet of Project Vahana workboats

They are used for several roles from logistics support, officer training, hydrographic survey and passenger transport to dive support and training.

The last of the vessels, dubbed the ‘Land Rover of the Seas’ because of their versatility and durability, was received by the navy only last month,

However, serving and maintaining them will be key and the Royal Navy hopes the initial two-year contract between MOD procurement arm Defence Equipment & Support will eventually lead to the seamless running of the vessels over the long term.

UK Docks already services and maintains multiple navy vessels and is proud to have extended its role.

Training workboat at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth

Jonathan Wilson, UK Docks managing director, said: “We are delighted to secure this contract which gives the company the chance to demonstrate its ability to provide the high standards and quality of service the navy demands.

“Winning important contracts like this does not come easily - a lot of work goes into making them happen and competition is intense because you are up against some of the best companies in the world in this field.

“So I would like to praise the UK Docks team that worked so hard to put together the successful bid to maintain the workboats and look forward to them keeping the vessels performing at their very best.”

The contract was awarded by the Boats Team at Defence Equipment and support, the procurement arm of the MOD.

Rosy Copping-Bull, Project Manager for the DE&S Boats Team, said: "We are pleased to be growing our relationship with UK Docks to now include the in-service support and capability maintenance of these Vahana Workboats which are an essential part of the Royal Navy's military operations including diving, surveying and training.

“The vital work carried out in Gosport and Cremyll to maintain these vessels will be instrumental in helping our nation prosper now and in the future."

HMS Magpie - one of the last of the Project Vahana workboats delivered to the Royal Navy.

One of the benefits of investing in the Vahana workboats is that it will standardise maintenance and spare parts making the Royal Navy operation much more efficient in terms of UK Docks being able to carry out the work swiftly. 

Ben Mason, portfolio manager at UK Docks, said: “It’s great to extend our links with the Royal Navy and take on the job of maintaining the Vahana workboats, designed and built by Atlas Electronik UK.

“UK Docks has invested heavily in our Gosport facilities in recent years and increased employment precisely to handle contracts like these.

“Our expanded capacity and investment in staff means the Vahana workboats will be maintained to operate at optimum levels and continue carrying out the important work they do.”

The vessels are operated from UK home ports, Royal Navy surface vessels and survey vessels. One is based in Gibraltar.

All SEA Class boats achieve a minimum of 25 knots with whole-body vibration-absorbing seats minimising shock to reduce operator fatigue, allowing longer missions.

Propulsion is delivered by two Yanmar marine diesel engines which range from 350hp to 1000hp and Hamilton Waterjet propulsion providing safe, shallow water operations. 

The propulsion system features the Hamilton Blue Arrow CAN Bus control system and mouse-boat control for optimum control and manoeuvrability.

The new support contract extends UK Docks' work with the Royal Navy.

The company currently maintains five Batch 2 River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels - HMS Medway, Spey, Forth, Trent and Tamar, as well as the Navy’s only icebreaker, HMS Protector.

Contractors sought for historic Gosport Rum Store redevelopment

TENDERS are being invited for contracts worth hundreds of thousands of pounds at Gosport’s former Royal Navy Rum Store, where the £8.5 million redevelopment of the Grade II-listed building is now imminent.

The derelict landmark on Victoria Quay, which used to house the entire Royal Navy’s rum rations, will be brought dramatically back to life in the next two years.

And UK Docks Marine Services, which owns the building, has invited tenders from construction firms for repairs, alteration and refurbishment works and improvements to the building and land around it.

Details of the work being offered can be accessed at the South East Business Portal or Contractservice.

The Royal Navy’s former Rum Store is waiting for contractors to begin its revitalisation.

The contracts are set to be awarded at the end of the year with work beginning at the start of 2025.

Ben Mason, UK Docks’ Portfolio Manager, said: “It’s an exciting time because, after so much preparatory work by so many people and organisations to get us this far, we’re now reaching the point where we’re about to see spades in the ground.

“This project will provide huge opportunities for Gosport residents and businesses and reinvigorate a disused historic building which people can be proud of once again.”

The Rum Store is at the heart of a successful Gosport Borough Council-led bid to secure £18m from the Government’s Levelling-Up Fund for its Reconnecting Historic Gosport Waterfront regeneration programme.

With extra match-funding from UK Docks, it represents a huge £30m investment in the 5.7-acre Victoria Quay site at Royal Clarence Yard.

Recent decades had seen a decline in the area, mirroring the reduction of the Royal Navy but since the arrival of UK Docks in 2019, the area has been steadily on the up but the Government funding is a game-changer.

The major works, due to be completed by 2026 in its first phase, include renovation of the 6,890sqm Rum Store to provide new mixed-use space, centred around the maritime sector.

There will also be public realm enhancements to the coastal route, encouraging more visitors and connecting the town centre to the waterfront and Gosport’s historic fortifications.

An aerial view of the former Royal Navy Rum Store shows the scale of the area set to be brought back into working life in Gosport.

That first phase will see the Rum Store provide workshops, office space and retail units for a range of maritime businesses such as sailmakers, chandleries, naval architects, yacht brokers, and maritime training providers.

Other units will offer retail and hospitality, including a second-floor restaurant and bar with a rooftop terrace.

Between 150 and 200 jobs are expected to be created which will help deliver an estimated £11m annual boost to the local economy.

UK Docks’ Ben Mason stressed that everything that has been achieved or set to be achieved on the project is the result of collaboration by multiple agencies, (including local MP, Dame Caroline Dineage), working together for a common goal.

Dame Caroline Dineage MP with UK Docks' Ben Mason at the derelict former Royal Navy Rum Store, soon to be restored.

"It has been an ambition for UK Docks since purchasing the site that the area regains its full potential, but we couldn’t do it on our own,” said Ben.

“Working with Gosport Borough Council has given us access to Government funding and helped unlock solutions to problems that were bigger than just our site, such as local infrastructure.

“The council has exciting big plans for regeneration in the borough and we’re delighted to be a partner in that.”

• Contractors seeking details of the works required with a view to potentially tendering should go to the South East Business Portal or Contractservice.