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KierBAM JV confirms £600m Devonport dock upgrade
KierBAM JV confirms £600m Devonport dock upgrade, moving the project into its main works phase.
Key points
- The main works phase follows early contractor involvement and a civils framework KierBAM first secured in 2022.
- 10 Dock will be prepared for deep maintenance of Royal Navy Astute-class attack submarines.
- KierBAM launched a drive this summer to recruit 120 people for its next phase of work at Devonport.
Why it matters. Ian Hubbard of BAM UK and Ireland said the work is helping to maintain and improve the availability of the Royal Navy's current and future fleet.
Babcock awarded KierBAM the main works phase of the £600m Devonport project, moving the joint venture from early contractor involvement. The work will prepare 10 Dock for deep maintenance of Royal Navy Astute-class attack submarines, with strengthened dock walls and a new heavy-lift gantry crane. Craig Small of Kier Infrastructure said the project is critical to UK defence resilience, and KierBAM is recruiting 120 people.
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KierBAM JV confirms £600m Devonport dock upgrade
Plymouth dockyard operator Babcock awarded the deal, which moves the team from early contractor involvement into the main works phase. The overhaul will prepare 10 Dock for deep maintenance of the Royal Navy’s Astute-class attack submarines. Existing dock walls will be strengthened, narrowing the dock, while part of the floor will be replaced with a reinforced concrete base supporting a new submarine docking cradle. The wider redevelopment also includes a heavy-lift gantry crane, five telescopic cranes and new workshops and support buildings. KierBAM first secured the main civils framework in 2022, with Costain and Mott MacDonald also supporting Babcock on the programme. The joint venture launched a drive this summer to recruit 120 people for its next phase of work at Devonport. Craig Small, managing director for energy & environment at Kier Infrastructure, said: “This is a critical piece of infrastructure to support the UK’s defence resilience, and builds on our experience across the UK’s nuclear and defence sectors.” How the upgraded dock will look once finished Ian Hubbard, managing director of social infrastructure, nuclear and defence at BAM UK and Ireland, said: “Our ongoing work at Devonport serves the evolving requirements of the UK Royal Navy, helping to maintain and improve the availability of its current and future fleet.”.