ScaffFloat has once again pushed the boundaries of marine access engineering with a bespoke hoistable pontoon system designed to support pile maintenance on a major jetty project in Africa.
Developed and built at the company’s facility in Cornwall, the self-propelled pontoons deliver safe, efficient, and fully enclosed access around more than 100 piles spread across nearly a kilometre of open water.
The system was designed to meet a critical challenge, providing engineers with 360-degree access above the waterline, while allowing rapid relocation between pile positions to maintain project momentum.
Each of the two 8m x 3m units can be hoisted and secured on either side of a pile, with staging boards spanning the gap to create a stable, full-enclosure work platform. Once maintenance is complete, the entire assembly can be lowered, repositioned, and re-hoisted onto the next pile in just a few hours.
The firm says this repeatable, modular method is transforming how offshore maintenance operations are delivered, cutting downtime and improving safety for crews working in exposed marine environments.
Before deployment, the system underwent a rigorous verification process in Cornwall. This included a Category 3 structural check by Richter, an inclination test verified by a marine surveyor in Falmouth Harbour, and a full trial build under simulated load conditions. The testing confirmed both the system’s stability and its suitability for repeated lifting operations.
Once verified, ScaffFloat packed the complete access system, including both pontoons and all ancillary equipment, into a single 40-foot shipping container for global shipment. A specialist team was deployed to Africa to oversee assembly, conduct final sea trials, and deliver hands-on training for the client’s engineers.
“This project really highlights what’s possible with modular design and proper engineering,” said ScaffFloat Managing Director, Toby Budd. “It’s about solving real-world access problems safely and efficiently — wherever they are.”
ScaffFloat continues to provide remote support as the project progresses, marking another milestone for the company’s expanding portfolio of international marine and infrastructure projects.
A short video showcasing the system in action is available here.
