Product category:
Walls
News Release from: Knauf Drywall
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 04 February 2008
Knauf Drywall for river route to
Olympics
Knauf Drywall has completed a test run on the Thames to prove that building materials can be sailed successfully to the London Olympics site.
With a potentially significant reduction of CO2 emissions, Knauf Drywall shipped 14 lorry loads of plasterboard upriver in a single trip from its Sittingbourne factory to the River Lea, which flows through the Olympic Park at Stratford The proving run follows news that British Waterways is going ahead with a new GBP18.9 million lock and water control structure that will ensure the Lea is navigable from the Thames to Stratford and beyond
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 31 Jan 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Towing a 300 ton barge load of Knauf plasterboard, the tug Nore Commodore today made the 40 mile, four hour journey from Sheerness to Bow Creek, the mouth of the River Lea, at Blackwall.
Knauf Drywall Managing Director Barry Topple says carbon emissions from plasterboard deliveries to the Olympic complex could drop significantly if river transport replaces the 50 mile road trip from Sittingbourne to Stratford.
"The test run saved about 1,400 road miles and we expect a marked reduction of CO2 emissions.
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Even better performance is predicted if multiple barges are used - and we are looking at switching tugs to biodiesel," he says.
Barry Topple says: "The Olympic Delivery Authority wants to encourage deliveries of building materials by river as part of the campaign to make the London Olympics the greenest games in modern times.
We are keen to support the ODA's sustainability goals, which are closely allied to those of the Knauf group.
"We are delighted that British Waterways is to build a new lock on the Prescott Channel.
This will reopen crucial parts of the River Lea, which have seen no commercial traffic since 1981.
This essential upgrading will contribute significantly towards achieving the 'green' target for building materials deliveries - and removal of waste - and enhance the Olympic legacy by facilitating future commercial and leisure traffic".
The feasibility study enables Knauf Drywall to test handling and packaging systems to ensure that plasterboard withstands water transport.
Tony Nicholls, Managing Director of Sheerness based Overland Freight, which facilitated the test run, says the biggest logistical challenge is protecting the integrity of the product.
"We were very keen to be involved with this trial shipment from the Port of Sheerness, and to encourage environment friendly transport," he says.
Knauf Drywall is confident there are more benefits on the river route - to Stratford, and elsewhere on the waterways network.
Barry Topple says: "When this becomes a more regular delivery run, we'll use the return trips for plasterboard waste brought back from building sites for recycling.
Meanwhile, we are happy that delivery by river is a viable alternative, which enables us to transport plasterboard in bulk without compromising quality".
He says Knauf Drywall is also totally committed to reducing and recycling waste throughout the business, and both UK factories are on track to be zero-emitting to landfill. Request free introductory details about products from Knauf Drywall ...
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