Gosport oil fuel depot upgraded to benefit future Navy requirements

Maritime December 20, 2022

Official DPRTE 23 event partners, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), working as part of an integrated project team, has delivered an £83m project to upgrade the Oil Fuel Depot at Gosport to meet the future requirements of the Royal Navy, including the new Queen Elizabeth Class carriers.

The project, which involved working together with the Navy’s Infrastructure team, AECOM, the Oil and Pipelines Agency who manage the site, and main contractor, J. Murphy and Sons Ltd (Murphy) a leading specialist engineering and construction company, included the design and replacement of fuel storage tanks, pipework, fuel delivery systems, gatehouse, control room, fuel sampling laboratory and stores.

Works also included a new fire and foam system, with tank deluge and a new effluent treatment works.

The project involved demolishing existing tanks and rebuilding a further eight tanks – which consisted of six new fuel storage tanks and two return tanks – as well as new security fencing and new buildings constructed according to the MOD’s specifications.

Stephen Bunce, DIO’s Principal Project Manager, said: “We are delighted to have completed this project to meet the Royal Navy’s fuel requirements.

“The upgrade work on the Gosport site was delivered on time and within budget and its success was achieved through good teamwork, communication and collaboration.

“It’s great to see this vitally important facility now in full operation.”

Peter Bartlett, Murphy Senior Project Manager, said: “This is the largest tank project that Murphy has worked on in its history and involved multidisciplinary trades including pipework, tanks, civil works and electrical ECNI.

“It was a great team effort by all involved in the project, from the design team through to the site construction crews, engineers and commercial backup, as well as our in-house specialist units, Specialist Welding Services and Pipeline Technical Services.”

The oil fuel depot secures the bulk supply of fuels for the Royal Navy – both aviation fuel for aircrafts and helicopters as well as diesel fuel for ships.