The Locks and Docks regeneration programme at His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth continues to gather momentum, marking a series of key milestones that further strengthen the base’s vital role in supporting the Royal Navy’s operational effectiveness.
At the outset of this year, KBS Maritime launched the comprehensive programme with the relocation of the D Lock West caisson to its outer stop – an event that signalled the commencement of an ambitious two-year transformation. Throughout the summer, the team successfully undertook the complex removal of more than 500 tonnes of contaminated silt from D Lock. This critical undertaking has paved the way for a suite of essential infrastructure upgrades, delivered in close collaboration with our UK MOD partners.
Following the silt removal, progress has continued at pace. At D Lock, close to 600 metres of edge protection handrails have been replaced, significantly enhancing safety standards across the site. In addition, extensive brickwork repairs have been meticulously carried out along the imposing 17-metre-deep lock chamber. These works are vital to maintaining the structural integrity and long-term reliability of this key asset, ensuring it will continue to support naval operations for decades to come.
Looking ahead, early 2026 will see the next phase of improvements, with plans to enlarge the sonar pit at D Lock. This enhancement will expand the dock’s dry-dock capabilities, ensuring it can accommodate the evolving requirements of both current and future Royal Navy vessels. By May 2026, the programme will further strengthen these capabilities through the replacement of penstocks and levellers, thereby enabling more efficient flooding and draining operations.
Progress is also advancing steadily at B Lock. Significant milestones have already been achieved, including the installation of new handrails equipped with removable barrier systems, which have now become standard across the base’s locks and docks. The forthcoming phase will focus on the lock bottom at B Lock, where the removal of silt will facilitate detailed condition surveys and inform the development of a robust plan for the next stage of civil engineering works. Concurrently, maintenance teams are surveying and repairing the upper side of the lock to address critical infrastructure requirements.
The ongoing Locks and Docks regeneration programme represents a major investment in the future resilience of Portsmouth’s critical infrastructure. By delivering these upgrades through a strong and effective partnership with the UK MOD and the Royal Navy, we are ensuring that HMNB Portsmouth remains fully equipped to support the Royal Navy’s operational needs, both now and well into the future.
Thanks to all partners and teams involved in achieving these important milestones, including Mackley, Suttle Projects, and the many others whose expertise have been instrumental to the programme’s success.
