Protecting our Historic Waterways
Our reactive maintenance teams cover the length and breadth of the UK and were on hand recently to ‘bail’ out West India Dock when the pumping station had to be powered down in a severe storm.
During one of the recent spate of storms, a large section of the West India Dock Impounding Station roof was shredded and ripped off by the strong gusts of wind. This exposed the high voltage switch gear, control panels and equipment: critical in maintaining water levels in the dock…
After much consideration, the decision was made late on a Friday to power down the 11kV supply to the pumping station.
With the anticipated arrival of a Dutch frigate, other existing motor yachts and substantial infrastructure in the dock area, AmcoGiffen was mobilised to deliver a temporary pumping solution at the request of Canal & River Trust.
Several of our engineers, working with Selwood Pump Hire managed to complete work to set up an interim solution the following day.
This involved six diesel pump sets in situ to facilitate continuous over pumping. The pipework configuration will allow delivery of 500-600 litres per second into the dock during the vast range of River Thames tidal cycle.
The units will help maintain water levels at an operational level. The combined efforts to provide this within 24-hours of the storm in very bleak conditions was a credit to all involved.
