Walcon Marine has undertaken a series of significant upgrades at boatfolk’s Royal Quays Marina in North Shields, in the North East of England. The works were split into two phases. The first took place in the autumn of last year, followed by the second in 2025.
The contract involved the extension of a number of the existing piers, together with the installation of a new pier, all to add capacity and also the replacement of the marina’s lock pontoons. To accelerate the works, Walcon’s Ravenstein barge complete with the piling rig made the trip north to drive the additional piles. The barge is a recent addition to Walcon’s assets. Its modular construction makes it easy to transport by road and quick to both assemble in the necessary configuration on arrival and disassemble once a project is completed.
The first phase focussed on the extension of existing piers A to F, followed by the installation of the new Pier G. The second phase took place in the spring and involved the design, build and installation of a new, easier access pontoon. This required a bespoke solution, which serves both the marina’s boatyard and the hoist dock.
With the works completed, Royal Quays Marina has increased its capacity from 350 berths to a total of 400. The works are also part of a broader investment to accommodate increased demand as well as the capacity to take vessels up to 50 metres in length, enhancing the marina’s appeal for both leisure and commercial users.
“From planning through to final snagging, the Walcon team were excellent: professional, proactive and quick to address challenges as they arose,” said Keeran Stephenson, Marina Manager. “They delivered a significant extension to the marina and boatyard, including new pontoons and driven piles, with regular site visits from the Project Manager to check progress, resolve issues, and ensure everything stayed on track. The end result has made a real operational difference to the marina, and their collaborative approach gave us confidence at every stage.”
