Construction & civil engineering

Build from the water.
Not around it.

WHH provides marine construction support on canals and navigable rivers, combining floating access, crane and HIAB barges, work platforms, lifting capability and practical waterway experience for constrained sites.

Marine construction support

The required vessels.
Configured for the site.

The answer is rarely a single boat.

Construction beside a live waterway can require stable access, lifting, materials handling, safety cover, welfare, navigation management and reliable mobilisation to work as one operation. WHH brings those elements together around the project method and programme.

We can join the team during feasibility or preconstruction, develop the marine configuration and then supply the craft, equipment and people needed for delivery.

WHH crane barge supporting a piling operation on an urban canal

Heavy work in restricted places

Make room for plant, access and the operation.

At Lisson Grove, a combination of vessels and equipment provided the platform, reach and stability needed for piling where conventional land-side access was constrained. The arrangement allowed plant and steelwork to be handled from the canal while retaining a practical work area for the operation.

Shown: piling operation at Lisson Grove, London

How we support the project

From an early constraint
to a workable method.

Tell us what has to be built, lifted, reached or moved. We will help translate that requirement into a practical marine setup.

Early feasibility

Review the site, waterway, access, loading needs and programme before temporary works and logistics become fixed.

Marine configuration

Select and combine craft, pontoons, lifting equipment, access arrangements and support boats around the task.

Mobilisation planning

Plan routes, assembly, loading points, interfaces and the sequence needed to establish the required vessels and equipment.

Operational delivery

Provide maintained equipment and experienced crews who understand construction sites as well as waterways.

A long modular pontoon work platform being moved along the canal by a WHH tug — **Adaptable floating access**Modular pontoons can be assembled to suit the work area, access load and waterway dimensions, then moved or reconfigured as the programme develops.

WHH crew member securing a bridge fender beneath a bridge structure — **Experienced people on the structure**Practical marine crews carry out the hands-on work needed to make the planned configuration function safely at the point of delivery.

Typical applications

One capability.
Many site problems.

Piling and retaining-wall works↗
Bridge construction and repair↗
Towpath and waterside construction↗
Utilities and linear infrastructure↗
Floating access and temporary works↗
Plant, materials and spoil movements↗

Involve us early

Protect the water option before the site plan closes it out.

You do not need to specify the craft. Send us the site, drawings, programme and what the operation needs to achieve; we will help identify the practical marine solution and the allowances it requires.

Discuss a construction project ↗

Build from the water.Not around it.

The required vessels.Configured for the site.