The 5,000 tonne structure being lowered is the second of four “intake” heads being connected to 5 miles of tunnels, which will supply Hinkley Point C’s two nuclear reactors with cooling water.

New images show Hinkley Point C’s biggest lift at sea

Posted August 08, 2022

Hinkley Point C has released images of its latest spectacular engineering achievement – the precision placement of a 5,000-tonne intake head on the seabed of the Bristol Channel.  

The structure is the second of four “intake” heads being connected to 5 miles of tunnels, which will supply Hinkley Point C’s two nuclear reactors with cooling water. The two “outfall” heads have already been lowered into position.  

The work to install the system is regarded as one of the world’s most complex marine engineering projects – as the Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range on the planet.  

Each intake head, at 44 metres long and 8 metres high, is being lifted into position by two floating cranes named “Gulliver” and “Rambiz”, working in tandem. Their platforms are the size of football pitches and have a combined lifting capacity of 7,300-tonnes.  

The heads have been built by Balfour Beatty in Avonmouth, in Bristol, and are being transported to Hinkley Point C on barges. The lifting at sea, carried out by the marine construction specialists, NewWaves Solutions, takes several days, due to each step taking place within 6-hour tidal windows. 

Hinkley Point C is the first power station in the Southwest to have fish protection measures in place, including the low velocity heads, a fish return system, and screens. The heads are accurately placed sideways to the tidal flow with a very high degree of precision. This helps prevent fish entering the cooling system and the size of the intakes heads slows the flow of water on either side, allowing nearby fish to swim away.    

The work to install all six heads will continue into the early autumn.  

Another incredible engineering achievement completed!  Watch as Balfour Beatty’s 5,000-tonne intake head is lowered onto the seabed of the Bristol Channel - which has the 2nd highest tidal range in the world! It’ll soon be connected to the power station's cooling water system. 

One of Hinkley Point C’s intake heads as it is towed into the Bristol Channel to join “Gulliver” and “Rambiz”. These floating cranes are the size of football pitches and have a combined lifting capacity of 7,300-tonnes.  

One of Hinkley Point C’s intake heads as it is towed into the Bristol Channel to join “Gulliver” and “Rambiz”. These floating cranes are the size of football pitches and have a combined lifting capacity of 7,300-tonnes.
The second 5,000-tonne intake head as it begins to be lowered into the Bristol Channel. The moment represents the latest spectacular engineering achievement at Hinkley Point C.

The second 5,000-tonne intake head as it begins to be lowered into the Bristol Channel. The moment represents the latest spectacular engineering achievement at Hinkley Point C.

In a major milestone for Hinkley Point C, the work to install the intake head regarded as one of the world’s most complex marine engineering projects.

In a major milestone for Hinkley Point C, the work to install the intake head regarded as one of the world’s most complex marine engineering projects.

Related articles

HPCDOMELIFT
March 24, 2026

EDF announces leadership changes in its UK nuclear businesses
EDF has named Mark Hartley as the next Chief Executive Officer of the Hinkley Point C nuclear project from 1 July. His appointment comes as current CEO Stuart Crooks steps down from the role after 40 years of service in the nuclear industry.
tunnel boring machine
March 13, 2026

Engineers at Hinkley Point C are ready to start tunnelling the fish return system
Engineers at Hinkley Point C are ready to start tunnelling the second of three fish protection measures at the nuclear power station. The fish return system will be 620m long and 1.8m in diameter.
Sea trials have shown that a new acoustic fish deterrent developed for Hinkley Point C is highly effective.
February 10, 2026

Trials show that Hinkley Point C’s Acoustic Fish Deterrent is Highly Effective 
Sea trials carried out by Swansea University have shown that an acoustic fish deterrent developed for Hinkley Point C is highly effective. The innovative use of ultrasound technology has been shown to keep target fish species away from the power station’s water intakes.