Mooney Boats Revetment Construction

Overview 

Background: 

Mooney Boats, one of Ireland's largest shipbuilding and restoration companies in the Northwest of Ireland, operates from its Killybegs, Co. Donegal facility. As part of Mooney Boats' existing property development, they required an existing R.C. sea wall to be removed and replaced with a rock armour revetment. The revetment was needed to meet stringent design (as requested by the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Marine, DAFM) and environmental standards backed by engineering certification. Lee Mooney tasked Ayesa to design the revetment and oversee its construction, completed by Cunningham Civils & Marine. 

Ayesa was engaged as the revetment designer and site supervisor, bringing in their expertise in coastal and marine engineering to ensure the new revetment met the required specifications and environmental standards.

Construction: Cunningham Civils & Marine, based in Westport, Co. Mayo, was contracted to undertake the physical construction of the revetment. Their role included demolishing the existing sea wall, localised dredging to prepare the site, installing engineering fill for the foundation, and carefully placing geotextile layers and rock armour.

Compliance and Supervision: Ayesa provided rigorous supervision throughout the project to ensure compliance with the specified materials and construction methods. The project team/client faced challenges such as sourcing certified rock fill/rock armour locally. However, through appropriate communication/technical advice & testing, our team steered the project on course to meet the Department of Marine's requirements (DAFM).

Works Carried Out

The construction phase involved several critical steps:

• Demolition of the existing R.C. sea wall.
• Localised dredging on the seaward side of the former sea wall.
• Installation of engineering fill to serve as the foundation for the revetment.
• Placement of a geotextile layer to separate the engineering fill from the rock armour.
• Careful installation of primary and secondary rock armour to provide robust protection against coastal erosion.

Value Add

The Mooney Boats Revetment Construction project achieved significant outcomes, including ensuring environmental compliance through adherence to high standards, enhancing durability and coastal protection with quality materials and methods, and satisfying stakeholder needs by meeting regulatory requirements and preserving the site's operational and environmental integrity.

The trust and relationship between Ayesa/BL and the Department of the Marine were crucial for the project's success. This solid partnership and straightforward cooperation among the design and construction teams, the client, and regulatory bodies was vital in effectively navigating environmental and regulatory challenges. The project showcased the importance of expert design, careful management, and a commitment to quality and compliance, all made possible by a robust and trust-based connection with regulatory authorities.