Rock at the Port of Sunderland

The granite boulders are being unloaded at Greenwell's Quay and stored until transferral into their final destination at Stonehill Wall and Hendon Foreshore Barrier.

They have come from Larvik in south west Norway.

Sunderland City Council runs the Port of Sunderland and has an ongoing programme of works to strengthen and help protect the port's estate against sea erosion and damage.

These works have a budget of more than £3m and will see nearly 400 metres (1,200ft) of new rock armour revetment for the port's sea defences at Stonehill Wall and the Hendon Foreshore Barrier. Norwegian rock is regularly used in UK sea defences because of its strength, durability and cost-effective shipping.

Stema II Barge has brought in 24,5000 tonnes of rock boulders and they will be placed in front of the exiting sea walls to form a rock revetment. This is an inclined rock embankment that dissipates wave energy and helps reduce overtopping.

Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Dynamic City, Councillor Kevin Johnston said: "The port is a key part of our city's infrastructure and these new rock revetments are a very cost-effective way for longer-term protection of the port and all its key assets.

"This updating and investing in our city's assets and infrastructure - as part of our bigger City Plan for a more dynamic, healthy and vibrant Sunderland - are always priorities for us as a City Council."

The strengthened defences will also help protect a 12-acre port site that is earmarked for a new plastics recycling plant - the first of its kind in the UK - to be operated by Norwegian company Quantafuel.

Port Business Development Manager, Andrew Foster said: "We're very versatile and flexible with our approach to marine operations and in being able to provide the infrastructure for handling cargoes such as this here at the port.

"The arrival of all of this rock armour is interesting in not only how it is unloading and being stored, but of course how it will become a key part of the infrastructure and the very fabric of the port itself."

Repairs to decking at the Stonehill Wall sea defences that were damaged in the winter and spring storms of 2018 have already been completed. Works on the port's New South Pier have also been completed and they were project winners at the Institution of Civil Engineering (ICE) North East Robert Stephenson Awards 2020.