Large Diameter Drilling (LDD), an Acteon company, has won a contract to supply drilling equipment and personnel for the delivery of foundation installation services at Liverpool 2, the new deepwater container terminal for the UK port. The contract is part of a major initiative to expand Liverpool’s dock area and to improve local infrastructure; the new terminal will more than double the number of containers handled in the North West of England.

LDD mobilised the first drilling rig, LD612, to Liverpool at the beginning of September 2013 with the second rig, LD818, joining the project at the beginning of October. In addition to the rental of LD612 and LD818, LDD is providing highly skilled supervisors and drilling engineers. 

The contract was won on the basis of LDD’s strong technical bid and enthusiasm and flexibility in terms of integrating LDD’s capability with that of the client. The drilling phase, which will last approximately nine months, called for the purchase of new pile-top drills, which are capable of drilling sockets up to 2.5m in diameter. 

Mark Richards, VP sales and marketing, LDD, said, “Liverpool 2 is an exciting project that will change the focus of the UK’s import and export routes and reinvigorate the North West region. We are delighted to be working with BAM Ritchies, who themselves are a very competent geotechnical contractor. As the project requires more than seven km of drilling for 323 piles to create the 854 m long quay wall for the container terminal, LDD will be working closely with BAM Ritchies to optimise the safety and efficiency of the drilling operation and to maximise production rates.”