Waterfront: Dam Board

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The Dam Board structure is an essential piece of quay infrastructure that holds HMS Trincomalee safely in the dock. Its replacement is a marine engineering project.

It is fundamental to the future of HMS Trincomalee as it is critical to the operations of the Trincomalee drydock. HMS Trincomalee requires a drydock for maintenance/restoration projects, and therefore the drydock and its gate are intrinsically connected to the future of the ship.

Whilst a replacement stoplog system had been selected following a detailed options appraisal and site investigation work the projected costs were in excess of the available budget, in part due to the remaining uncertainties regarding the condition of the dockmouth walls and underwater slab. Following a review of the situation and consideration of options by the Waterfront Board it was decided nevertheless to continue to pursue the project’s aims .


Project Update

In order to provide more certainty about the condition of the dockmouth walls and slab a ground investigation has been carried out. In addition, tenders were invited for specialist marine engineering consultants to advise on proposed solutions and to oversee construction work but following a limited response none have been appointed as yet and following a downward adjustment of the available budget, the project has undergone further review, with consideration being given to how best to progress it in the most economical way that will meet its objectives.

Whilst the project has therefore suffered further delay it is expected that a strategy for completing it will be adopted shortly.


The Dam Board structure is an essential piece of quay infrastructure that holds HMS Trincomalee safely in the dock. Its replacement is a marine engineering project.

It is fundamental to the future of HMS Trincomalee as it is critical to the operations of the Trincomalee drydock. HMS Trincomalee requires a drydock for maintenance/restoration projects, and therefore the drydock and its gate are intrinsically connected to the future of the ship.

Whilst a replacement stoplog system had been selected following a detailed options appraisal and site investigation work the projected costs were in excess of the available budget, in part due to the remaining uncertainties regarding the condition of the dockmouth walls and underwater slab. Following a review of the situation and consideration of options by the Waterfront Board it was decided nevertheless to continue to pursue the project’s aims .


Project Update

In order to provide more certainty about the condition of the dockmouth walls and slab a ground investigation has been carried out. In addition, tenders were invited for specialist marine engineering consultants to advise on proposed solutions and to oversee construction work but following a limited response none have been appointed as yet and following a downward adjustment of the available budget, the project has undergone further review, with consideration being given to how best to progress it in the most economical way that will meet its objectives.

Whilst the project has therefore suffered further delay it is expected that a strategy for completing it will be adopted shortly.


Do you have any questions regarding the Dam board Project?

Please send us any questions that you have relating to this project.

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  • Share What is happening to HMS Trincomalee? Is it staying in Hartlepool? on Facebook Share What is happening to HMS Trincomalee? Is it staying in Hartlepool? on Twitter Share What is happening to HMS Trincomalee? Is it staying in Hartlepool? on Linkedin Email What is happening to HMS Trincomalee? Is it staying in Hartlepool? link

    What is happening to HMS Trincomalee? Is it staying in Hartlepool?

    Sharon Fleet asked over 2 years ago

    Thank you for your question.  Firstly can I apologise for the delay in responding, we had an issue with the questions coming through the system.  This has now been rectified.

    HMS Trincomalee is owned and operated by the National Museum of the Royal Navy so any decision rests with them but it is certainly intended that the ship stays in Hartlepool. Re-location would in any event be extremely costly and risky, and she could not be towed through the marina lock as it is not wide enough.

  • Share Is there an alloted time (slot) that the vessels will be in drydock and if Hartlepool is to become a major National Royal naval museum why can't we build another dry Dock facility surely this would benefit the town and the NRNM in the long term ?? on Facebook Share Is there an alloted time (slot) that the vessels will be in drydock and if Hartlepool is to become a major National Royal naval museum why can't we build another dry Dock facility surely this would benefit the town and the NRNM in the long term ?? on Twitter Share Is there an alloted time (slot) that the vessels will be in drydock and if Hartlepool is to become a major National Royal naval museum why can't we build another dry Dock facility surely this would benefit the town and the NRNM in the long term ?? on Linkedin Email Is there an alloted time (slot) that the vessels will be in drydock and if Hartlepool is to become a major National Royal naval museum why can't we build another dry Dock facility surely this would benefit the town and the NRNM in the long term ?? link

    Is there an alloted time (slot) that the vessels will be in drydock and if Hartlepool is to become a major National Royal naval museum why can't we build another dry Dock facility surely this would benefit the town and the NRNM in the long term ??

    Joggs's asked over 2 years ago

    Thank you for your question.  Firstly can I apologise for the delay in responding, we had an issue with the questions coming through the system.  This has now been rectified.  

    It is estimated that PS Wingfield Castle will be in dry dock for 3 to 4 months during 2025, but this will also depend on the logistics of moving HMS Trincomalee. The idea of building another dry dock hasn’t been considered but the Council doesn’t have any suitable land or funds for such a project. However the replacement of the damboard will make the existing dock easier and more cost effective to use thus effectively increasing the dry docking capability.

Page last updated: 27 Nov 2025, 11:53 AM