28 March 2014
This time last year readers may recall the arrival of Shoreham Port’s new work boat ‘Juno’. One year on and after a thorough refurbishment, Juno is now ready to take to the waters to fulfil her new role as a work boat for the Port’s in-house engineering team.
Juno is a landing craft that was constructed in Scotland for the local fish farm trade, originally called Glen Grant. She is approximately 12m long and 4m broad with a very shallow draft of less than 1m, weighing in at approximately 18 tonnes.
The Juno’s last job before coming to Shoreham was as construction support for works to the Tay Bridge at Dundee. After completing this work she was transported to Shoreham Port last year on a lorry.
As a landing craft, Juno has a flat open deck which can carry a cargo of eight tonnes. Vehicles and machines can be driven on and off the boat and there is a crane that has a very useful reach and capacity to enable the engineers to carry out a range of complex activities.
Brian Rousell, Deputy Port Engineer commented “We have spent some important time refurbishing the inside of the hull and making sure it is sound before launching, also refurbishing the hydraulics. It will take a 100 tonne crane to lift her, when she will be towed down to the Wigan Terminal before the rest of the fit out is completed.”
Once in action the Juno will be put to good use in a variety of tasks including; dive support, particularly around the lock gates, fendering work, coast protection works, air-lifting or underwater excavation, surveys and corrosion protection work, navigation aid maintenance and general clearance of debris and wrecks.
Brian continued “We have decided to call her Juno after one of the codenames for a beach in the D-Day Normandy landings of World War II, in which Shoreham played a part in the preparations.”
Julian Seaman, Harbour Master/Director of Marine Operations at Shoreham Port added “The craft will be a fine edition to our fleet and will play an important role in the delivery of maintenance work in and around the Port.”
