Marina & Ports Engineering Specialists
24/7 Dockside Infrastructure & Ro-Ro Equipment Support Ro-Ro operations are the heartbeat of the port . If the equipment that moves the cargo stops, the ship stays docked, and costs spiral. Built on our founder’s 25 years of foundational experience managing maintenance for Associated British Ports (ABP), Hickman Engineering provides comprehensive dockside engineering services.
We maintain, repair, and upgrade critical port infrastructure and heavy Roll-On/Roll-Off (Ro-Ro) equipment across the UK, ensuring your cargo keeps moving safely and efficiently.
What is Marina & Ports Engineering?
Marina and ports engineering involves the rigorous maintenance and emergency repair of both the physical dock infrastructure, such as lock gates and flood defences, and the heavy mechanical equipment used to load and unload vessels.
Operating in a harsh marine environment subjects this equipment to relentless saltwater spray and heavy loads, meaning standard maintenance is rarely enough. Our specialised engineering teams utilise bespoke fabrication, structural machining, and coded welding to restore and reinforce these assets, ensuring total compliance and uninterrupted port operations.
Comprehensive Port Engineering Capabilities
We do not just repair ships; we maintain the vital infrastructure that allows them to dock and discharge cargo. Our specialist teams deliver robust solutions for the ports sector:
Lock Gate & Dock Infrastructure Maintenance
Led by specialists like Shaun Polley, we hold decades of experience maintaining complex port infrastructure, including the 1930s Ravestein lock gate systems on the Fish Dock Estate. We design, manufacture, and install bespoke components such as shoot bolt wedge blocks, rod lock support beam rollers, and flood gate chain restraints to keep aging port infrastructure operating flawlessly.
Ro-Ro & Cargo Handling Equipment
If it rolls on or off a ship, we keep it moving. As the official UK and Ireland agents for NT Liftec, we hold the country’s only import duty-free imprest stock of Liftec translifter and cassette spares. We also provide comprehensive maintenance and emergency breakdown repairs for Reach Stackers, Terberg terminal tractors, and heavy-duty forklifts.
Heavy Crane Repair & Precision Machining
Cargo cranes take a monumental beating during daily operations. We execute rapid, reactive repairs for major cargo handling equipment, including Gottwald cranes and gantry cranes. Our in-house machining division can reverse-engineer and manufacture obsolete pins, bearings, and gear couplings within hours to prevent prolonged operational downtime.
Sectors & Case Studies
We apply our extensive dockside engineering expertise across various high-pressure maritime and cargo environments:
We established a comprehensive maintenance program for Grimsby Enterprises, successfully performing highly technical underwater repairs and structural modifications on their vast Ravestein lock gate infrastructure with zero required closures.
When ABP Immingham Container Terminal suffered a severe three-metre fracture on a reach stacker spread frame, our team executed extensive NDT testing, precise plate cutting, and coded structural welding to return the vital machine to service within seven days.
We partnered with Thanet District Council to overhaul a crucial road access bridge spanning a lock establishment. We successfully fabricated specialist braces and completed structural welding and bearing repairs to ensure the bascule bridge’s long-term operational integrity.
During a critical Friday evening breakdown with three ships awaiting discharge, we executed emergency line boring to a depth of 300mm on the jib end of a Gottwald crane boom, getting the equipment operational and discharging cargo again rapidly.
The 24/7 Flat Rate Promise
Tides and shipping schedules do not stop for weekends, and neither do we. We operate a continuous response service with a highly transparent pricing structure. We charge a flat rate regardless of the time or day, meaning a Tuesday afternoon costs the exact same as a Bank Holiday weekend. If your port or marina is located within 20 miles of our Immingham base, we guarantee a 90-minute engineering response to act as your dedicated heavy equipment repair team. Contact Hickman Engineering today to keep your port infrastructure fully operational.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What types of port infrastructure do you repair?
We repair, maintain, and upgrade a vast array of dockside infrastructure, including Ravestein lock gates, flood gate chain restraints, bascule road access bridges, and sluice gates.
What cargo handling equipment do you service?
We specialise in the repair and maintenance of heavy Ro-Ro and cargo machinery. This includes Reach Stackers, NT Liftec translifters and cassettes, Terberg shunters, heavy-lift forklifts, and Gottwald quayside cranes.
Are you official agents for any port equipment brands?
Yes, we are the official approved UK and Ireland agents for NT Liftec. We manage comprehensive repairs, commissioning, and warranty works, and we hold the only import-duty-free imprest stock of Liftec spares in the UK.
Can you reverse-engineer obsolete parts for older dock infrastructure?
Absolutely. Many UK ports rely on historic infrastructure. If an original manufacturer no longer exists or a part is obsolete, our CAD and traditional machining divisions will reverse-engineer and manufacture an exact-tolerance replacement from modern, high-grade materials.
Do you provide scheduled maintenance for port equipment?
Yes, we transition ports from costly reactive breakdowns to planned, budgeted maintenance. We design bespoke, cloud-based schedules and daily operator checklists to keep your translifters, cranes, and lock gates running reliably all year round.
Do you charge overtime for emergency dockside repairs at night?
No, in line with our 24/7 Flat Rate Promise, we do not inflate our prices for after-hours work. You pay the exact same standard rate whether it is a weekday night shift or a busy bank holiday weekend, ensuring complete pricing transparency.
