Marine Institute’s Marine Base Construction Underway

Construction work on the next phase of the Marine Institute of Memorial University’s Holyrood Marine Base has begun

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

RJG Construction, which was awarded the tender in November 2015, is preparing the site for the delivery of rock and timbers for the marginal wharf. Construction of the wharf is scheduled to start by late March. 

The Institute will build a wharf and breakwater on the north side of the base in common with the berths and harbour on the south. The enclosed area will provide protected berthage for small and medium sized vessels, and a sheltered area where clients can continue in‐water training and testing in all but the most extreme conditions.

Upon completion of the development, the Institute will relocate all of its at-sea safety and survival training to the Holyrood Marine Base from the Southside Marine Base to take advantage of the environmentally clean waters, sheltered harbor and low traffic volume. To undertake this move, the Institute will also reconstruct the existing wharf and install various evacuation systems for ocean safety and survival education, training and research.

Further development of the Holyrood Marine Base is expected with additional plans to construct a second larger building on the site and to develop the adjacent water lot. This development will be used for various marine related training activities, and research and development on prototype ocean instruments.

The base is currently home to the Institute’s Centre for Applied Ocean Technology and hosts a number of clients and students for ocean technology research and at-sea training. The Institute’s Marine Services Department also operates training and research vessels and building/technical services from the base.

Construction of the breakwater, marginal wharf and the reconstruction of the existing wharf at the Holyrood Marine Base is expected to take 12-18 months.

Clients and visitors are reminded to exercise extreme care and to adhere to all safety precautions while this phase of construction is underway at the Holyrood Marine Base.