Chatham Lock Gate Refurbishment

The project, designed by Beckett Rankine and KGAL involved the refurbishment works of four sliding caisson gates to the two tidal locks which provide access to Chatham's Commercial Docks. The locks and their operating machinery were constructed for the Royal Navy in the 1870s although the current caisson gates are replacements dating from the 1960s. The project involved the repair of one pair of caissons and the replacement of the associated hauling gear by AMCO and the overhaul and refurbishment of the hauling gear of the second pair of caissons. As there was no nearby operational dry dock to accommodate the 800 Tonne gates, they were removed by crane, floated into the docks and lifted onto the dockside for refurbishment. Throughout the refurbishment the commercial docks remained operational.