A SOMERSET company has won a multi-million pound contract to deliver equipment needed in the next phase of construction at Hinkley Point C (HPC).

Staff from Osprey Group, which is based in Portishead, will use their expertise in both marine and heavy land transport to provide logistics and management for all equipment coming into the HPC site.

Workers at HPC are currently building two new nuclear reactors and they will provide low-carbon electricity for around six million homes.

John O’Connor, commercial director at Osprey “We’re exceptionally proud to partner with EDF to deliver strategic logistics for the project. Normally, critical assets are called forward by the Construction Director, and multiple contractors complete the delivery.

"It’s an enormous task to perform this to the tightest of schedules, with so many contractors and interlocking phases of construction. You need a detailed plan and the right specialist heavy-logistics’ resources – all applied intelligently with a best for project, one team mindset. HPC is an inspiring project driven by exceptional people – our job is to provide safe, flexible and reliable service every time. "It’s an exciting time for Osprey and we look forward to supporting EDF and all Tier 1 contract partners in delivering success together.” HPC is moving into the major next phase of its build and are starting to construct buildings on the carefully prepared site.

Tier 1 suppliers are liaising on tight schedules to install the equipment which includes steam generators, turbines and the nuclear reactors themselves – everything needed to generate low-carbon electricity.

Nigel Cann, Delivery Director for HPC, said: “It’s fantastic to see a local company step up to the challenge of delivering this volume of critical components for our project. Osprey has already proved to us that they have the capability and expertise to deliver to the high standards of safety, quality and efficiency required for such a complex construction job. We set out to ensure that businesses in the region would benefit from HPC and this is the latest example of us delivering on that commitment.”

Osprey will be transporting all of HPC’s largest assets – one-off pieces of equipment manufactured around the world and delivered by water via a dedicated muster port at Avonmouth.

From there, deliveries will be made to the build teams on site in line with predefined construction scheduling.

Each consignment will be received direct from a delivery vessel before onward movement to the HPC terminal, cutting down on road use, disruption, and emissions."

“This is a brand new, specialist logistics model for receiving critical equipment. All in all, over £1billion of essential, critical assets will move through this operation over the coming years,” John said.

"HPC’s lead here, in embracing this innovative new approach, provides an opportunity for projects like HS2 and large-scale renewables projects to see ways in which assets can be delivered faster, against more flexible schedules, and with an improved impact on both the environment and the bottom line.

"As the centralised logistics provider, we will be taking the pressure off for some of HPC’s own logistics teams too – and it’s an innovation legacy for the region, as we often work with local sub-contractors.”