Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

Having got to grips with the EDF Hinkley Point C (HPC) Nuclear New Build (NNB) programme now I can tell you that every day it blows my mind as to the scale of what is taking place. Everything is in excess. For example, it was decided that if the reactor dome could be constructed away from the reactor common raft, before being lifted into place when on completion, it would allow multiple works packages to run in parallel, saving time and therefore cost. But how do you lift something like that into place when it’s ready? Easy… you use the Sarens Super Crane!

The Sarens SGC 250

The crane has a maximum load moment of 250,000 tonnes, allowing it to lift 5,000 tonnes at a radius of 50 metres. Even at a larger radius of 100 meters, it can lift 2,000 tonnes. Although at 100 metres, it wouldn’t stretch far across our site – so its going in on rails to transit between 3 separate 360° slew points.

Its difficult to find a photo perspective that does it justice but the Sarens link here does a pretty good job; https://youtu.be/BHwbu8iWrBo

Update in response to comment: Power is supplied ‘on-board’ using gen-sets…

This weekend saw the first of 15 consecutive weekend works, caused by a single decision early on in the project.

Early on in the project when the design for the precast elements was not complete, a decision was made to start piling. This was due to high standing costs for the piling barges and instructions from the client to start work. This meant that the first row of pre-cast was not able to be placed.

An aerial view of the deck showing the missing precast between the dock wall and the new deck

The solution was bringing in a 450t crane to lift everything into place. This is achieved during the weekly 24hr airport closure between 1200 on Saturday to 1200 on Sunday. 

This 24hr possession enabled the installation of 8 beams…. I question whether the management are ruing their decision many months ago.

It will be interesting to see whether BAM can claim the full costs of this back from the client, stating that this is due to a PMI telling them to do so!