500 tonne jacket barges down the Cart

A 23 m tall, 500 tonne wind turbine jacket passed beneath the drawbridge style Bascule Bridge. The 60 m barge carrying the component had to temporarily stop before the bridge so that it could be accurately lined up before passing under it.

Renfrewshire Council’s vision in restoring Inchinnan’s Bascule Bridge paid dividends today (Saturday 31 August) when it rose up its full 30m height to allow a 500 tonne, wind turbine jacket out into the open sea at the start of its voyage to Methil in Fife.

The 23 metre tall jacket forms the foundation for what will be the world’s largest wind turbine, which in turn forms the heart of Samsung Heavy Industries’ Wind Turbine Demonstrator. The jacket is being transported down the cart on a 60 metre long barge.

The wind turbine jacket was built by Renfrew based, Steel Engineering Ltd. Peter Breslin, Director of Steel Engineering Ltd, said, “We operate in a highly competitive market and we have worked extremely hard to secure the ground breaking contract to manufacture this prototype.

“It is a huge honour that a global giant like Samsung recognises our talent and has faith in our ability to manufacture and deliver. But that ability to deliver depends on the Cart and the ability of the Bascule Bridge to open. Without the Cart and the bridge we would have no way of moving components of this scale.”

Councillor Eddie Devine, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Environment Policy Board said, “Creating and maintain jobs is a key goal for Renfrewshire Council. We are the Harbour Authority for the Cart and we actively support the use of the river for transporting heavy goods. The strengthening and refurbishment of the historic Bascule Bridge in 2005 has ensured that the Cart is available as a working economic asset.

“Steel Engineering Ltd is at the forefront of the expanding renewable sector. It is very gratifying that our role in maintaining the vital infrastructure that Steel Engineering Ltd relies on is allowing the company to deliver the goods to global firms such as Samsung.”

Steel Engineering Ltd is one of more than 300 companies signed up to Invest, Renfrewshire Council’s £8m programme to boost the local economy.

The Bascule Bridge is a listed building and was built in 1923. It is just one of 17 drawbridge style structures left in Britain and shares its counter-weight operation with Tower Bridge in London.

Renfrewshire Council invested some £1.4million in rebuilding the bridge as part its commitment to keeping the River Cart open to commercial traffic. In a quirk of fate Steel Engineering Ltd carried out much of the refurbishment work on the Bascule Bridge.

All photographs taken for www.paisley.org.uk by Alex Kyle. You can find more photos from Alex by clicking here.

Author

Founder of Paisley.org.uk in 1998 and constantly strives to change peoples attitudes to the town, Brian is a self described Paisley Digital Champion who promotes Paisley via any means necessary. You can also follow me on X