Marine Foundations

Our Expertise in Marine Environments

Aarsleff Ground Engineering has been at the forefront of civil engineering since its establishment, with a long track record in marine foundations. Our expertise extends across coastal, port and offshore environments. We’ve undertaken numerous projects of all sizes, including the construction of quays and jetties, reinforcement of existing structures, coastal and revetment protection processes and impregnated Cathodic protection.

Our team of specialists brings a wealth of knowledge in designing and implementing foundations that can withstand the unique challenges posed by marine settings. Our commitment to operational excellence has established us as a trusted partner for clients seeking durable, cost-effective, and sustainable foundation solutions in challenging marine environments.

Aerial view of marine works of a new harbour with long walkways extending into the water

Piling Techniques

Piling is one of the most time‑tested and vital solutions for marine foundations, and at Aarsleff, we bring state‑of‑the‐art machinery, equipment, techniques, and flexibility to every piling job.

We offer the following piling services for marine projects:

We also offer pile testing, including static and dynamic load testing, to verify the capacity and integrity of installed piles for marine projects.

Retaining Wall Systems

Protecting shorelines and creating efficient vertical structures are at the core of marine environments. We offer a variety of permanent and temporary retaining wall systems tailored to the specific demands of each project:

Sheet pile walls
Cofferdams
Anchored walls

Throughout the process, we prioritise environmental considerations, employing techniques that reduce noise, vibration, and spoil generation. Our experienced engineers conduct thorough geotechnical assessments to determine the most effective wall system.

Ground Engineering Solutions

Ground engineering is fundamental to the success of any marine foundation project. Aarsleff provides comprehensive ground improvement and stabilisation solutions to enhance soil properties, reduce settlement, and increase bearing capacity in challenging marine and coastal soils. Some of the ground engineering solutions we provide for marine construction include:

Examples of Marine Projects

Aarsleff has delivered foundation works for a wide range of marine construction projects over the years. Let’s take a look at some examples.

Cleethorpes Promenade Boathouse

Location: Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England

Between May and September 2023, Aarsleff worked for Tolent Construction on a project for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the UK’s largest sea rescue charity. The 14-week, £1.1 million project expanded existing facilities on the promenade, providing new drying and changing areas and a strengthened jetty to support rescue operations. Marine conditions posed challenges, with work hours limited to 5-7 hours per shift due to tides, requiring careful planning of plant movements.

The scope included constructing a suspended deck boathouse, installing 24no. 711dia CHS bearing piles, precast concrete T-Beams, in-situ reinforced concrete caps, and precast concrete floor planks, totalling significant in-situ and precast work.

This was the first project led by Civils Operations Manager, Matt Brannan, who collaborated closely with Jim Wilson to ensure smooth execution and seamless delivery for the client.

Newark Marina

Boats on land and in water at Newark Marine on a sunny day. A rocky shoreline is shown in the foreground.

Location: Newark, Nottinghamshire, England

Newark Marina, located on the non-tidal River Trent, provided a peaceful spot for boating with scenic views and proximity to Newark-on-Trent. Boaters could cruise towards Nottingham, Lincoln, York, or access the coast via Boston and Hull.

On behalf of Newark Marina Ltd, Aarsleff was contracted to install steel sheet pile walls in May 2019, creating a new area of water for boats to enter and moor in the marina. The work included installing wailings, tie bars, and steel H-section columns. The team used a Movax vibrator hammer on a 34T excavator to install 174 steel sheet piles, forming a 104 lin/m retaining wall, with an addition of 355 “free issue” steel sheet piles, extending it to 220 lin/m.

After excavating and pumping water into the new marina section, work paused due to heavy rainfall in Autumn 2019 and Winter 2020, causing flooding. The next phase involved installing 28 254mm steel H-section piles up to 17.5m long to support a nearby care home facility.

Discuss Your Project With Our Experts

At Aarsleff, we are committed to delivering marine foundation solutions that exceed expectations in safety, reliability, and performance. Whether extending a port’s quay or constructing foundations for offshore platforms under the harshest conditions, our team applies deep technical knowledge and specialist equipment to every project challenge.

With a legacy of engineering excellence and a future focused on innovation and sustainability, Aarsleff is the partner of choice for your marine construction projects. Contact us today to speak with our experts.

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A leading UK ground engineering specialist, focusing on multi-discipline excellence and value engineering. We design and deliver some of the UK’s largest ground engineering projects.

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Our vision is to bring confidence to those constructing the landscape of tomorrow .

1947. Central Jutland, Denmark. Per Aarsleff borrowed 10,000 Danish Kroner from his father’s life insurance, bought an excavator, and founded Northern Europe’s leading contracting company.

Our biggest asset, our team is composed of the leading experts in ground engineering. Working with collaboration and cohesion at the core of our business, we can guarantee a quick and founded answer to all your questions.

We recruit and reward our people based on our ‘Step into the Blue’ company culture, where we embrace the core values of Life and Health, Trust, and Responsibility.

We do everything to ensure our team and yours work safely on our sites. With our core value of Life & Health, we see safety as a cultural pillar.

Our ISO accreditations are an assurance to you that we take governance seriously. Read our policies to discover more.

The projects that keep society running. Bridges, buildings, transit and rail facilities, embankment support, marine and offshore facilities, mines, airports, and water projects.

Close-up view of steel reinforcement cages at a construction site. A yellow KLEMM drilling rig is in the background.

Keeping things turning. Sewage Treatment Works, Waste Water Treatment Works, Wind Farms and Wind Turbines, Biomass Plants, and Power stations.

Aarsleff's Junttan PM 20HLC piling rig in operation with two workers present. Another piling rig can be seen in the background.

Meeting society’s needs. Nursing and care homes, MOD buildings, Schools and Universities, and small or large-sized residential developments.

Three piling rigs positioned on a muddy site under a blue sky. Construction workers are seen near the rigs.

Staying on the move. Remediation, bridges, and foundation work are integral to keeping the industry running smoothly.

Aarsleff worker kneeing down on one knee with a yellow piling rig and concrete piles in the background. The worker is wearing high-visibility clothing and a white hard hat.

The landscape of the marketplace. Mega-retail sheds, distribution warehouses, University accommodation, and major supermarket and household name units.

Keeping things afloat. Ports and harbours, coastal defences, river embankments and inland waterways.

An aerial view of the Port of Hanstholm.