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Hydraulic engineering specialist Industrial and Marine Hydraulics (IMH) has been commissioned to provide the hydraulics for a pair of new dock gates at the Port of Boston dock entrance.

The company, based in Middlesbrough, UK delivers major hydraulic engineering projects across the world and successfully won this project following its work on the Boston Barrier supporting BMMJV (a joint operating venture of BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald).

The pair of dock gates at the wet dock is the final stage of works that has been carried out to provide 14,000 homes and 800 businesses with protection from tidal surge flooding from the North Sea. IMH has already supplied a main hydraulic power unit and two emergency hydraulic power units to power the Boston tidal flood barrier which weighs around 730 tonnes when in operation.

This phase of the project will see IMH deliver a single main hydraulic power unit (MHPU) which will power both the North and South wet dock entrance gates, as well as two emergency hydraulic power units (EHPU) which are diesel driven.

Interconnecting pipework and control cables will be routed under the wet dock entrance structures with each wet dock entrance gate actuated by a single hydraulic cylinder. The new wet dock entrance gates will be operated by the hydraulic control system.

James Griffiths, Managing Director at IMH commented:

“We’re delighted to have the opportunity to once again work alongside BMMJV following our successful work together on the Boston tidal flood barrier.

“The team at IMH has successfully completed manufacture of the pipe spools and are currently finalising the manufacture of the hydraulic power units ready for the factory acceptance test within the next few weeks.”

Guy Russell, MEICA Project Manager at BAM Nuttall added:

“We’re delighted with the input and support provided by IMH through the Boston Tidal Barrier project.

“The pro-active relationship between BMMJV and IMH has meant that challenges were identified quickly and solutions implemented effectively to ensure the project continued on time and to budget.”

IMH has extensive experience of providing hydraulic engineering expertise and solutions to sectors including oil and gas, marine, subsea, energy (including renewables), nuclear, infrastructure, mining, manufacturing and automotive.

By closely engaging with IMH, companies can tap into a deep source of hydraulic engineering talent from consultation and initial specification through to design and delivery, providing customers with peace of mind through the provision of expert advice and support.

The company was founded by experienced engineer, Paul Griffiths MBE, and it has grown from a home-based business in 1983 to a leading global player in hydraulic engineering, with experience of working across more than 50 countries.

For more information visit the IMH website.