The Ash Barge Dock at Northumberland Energy Park (NEP) has undergone a major transformation following the completion of complex infrastructure works by Esh Construction in partnership with Advance Northumberland.

Located near the Port of Blyth, NEP is a key part of Energy Central—the UK’s strategic offshore energy and subsea services hub. The redevelopment of the Ash Barge Dock is a critical component of Phase 1 enabling works, aimed at enhancing the site’s capabilities for industrial operations, particularly in the renewable energy and offshore markets.

The extensive upgrade began in June 2024 and saw the installation of 173 tubular steel piles, each with a diameter of 610mm and driven to depths of 16m to 18.5m. These piles support a newly constructed 1-metre-deep reinforced concrete relieving slab, adjacent to the dock’s West and North quay walls.

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In total, 3,000m³ of concrete was used to form the relieving slab, which provides a safe working load of 5,300kN, enabling the dock to handle heavy industrial loads including the import and export of large components and finished goods.

Esh Construction also cast transition slabs, measuring 540mm thick with a concrete volume of 700m³, behind the relieving slab. A further 8,100m² of reinforced concrete paving was laid at 300mm depth, creating a durable surface to support vehicle movement and operations.

The entire concreting phase was delivered through 60 separate pours, with the total volume exceeding 6,130m³.

Additional site work included the decommissioning of two 4m diameter culverts, remnants from the former Blyth power station. Hydro-demolition techniques were used to safely remove eight 30-tonne mooring bollards, which have now been replaced with upgraded 50-tonne and 100-tonne bollards and foundations, improving mooring capabilities for larger vessels.

The dock's drainage system was also modernised with over 440m of QMAX drainage channels, connected to a new stormwater management system, which includes bypass interceptor tanks and outfalls to efficiently handle surface water runoff.

The completed works now position Ash Barge Dock as a fully operational, heavy-duty berth equipped to serve the growing needs of the offshore and renewable energy industries in the North East.