DIO signs £19m contract for Mare Harbour improvements

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has signed a £19 million contract with VolkerStevin to upgrade Mare Harbour.

The news comes after Defence Secretary Michael Fallon visited the Falkland Islands in February and is part of his wider commitment to invest £180 million over the next decade to modernise the military infrastructure on the Islands.

The contract will cover design, construction and other associated costs and will provide a facility suitable to cater for larger vessels such as the POINT Class ships with roll-on roll-off capability of the Falkland Islands Resupply Ship (FIRS). Currently, there are around 10 FIRS sailings each year which deliver military supplies including hardware, food and infrastructure as well as a small amount of freight to the Falkland Islands.

The project will improve military capability in the Falklands as the current harbour berth is unsuitable for the class of vessel which services the islands. The construction is due to reach completion in September 2017.

Fallon said: “Improving Mare Harbour is an important part of our major investment plan to modernise the Falkland Island’s infrastructure. This will boost the capability of our Armed Forces and help support greater economic opportunities for the Islanders.”

Rob Coupe, managing director of VolkerStevin, said: “We are delighted to be working on the Mare Harbour contract in the Falklands for the DIO. As a specialist in marine construction works, we look forward to working on this design and build project for the roll-on roll-off facility upgrade. We have worked previously with the DIO and are currently working on a similar project with them at Portsmouth so are happy to be able to build on this existing partnership. We’re so pleased to be working as part of this investment to modernise military infrastructure on the Islands and look forward to starting.”