Ad
Thursday, November 20, 2025

Industry firms partner to install sunken protest pontoon at COP26

ADVERTISEMENT

A sunken protest pontoon has been installed today at COP26 for the Climate Coalition thanks to a partnership between ScaffFloat and scaffolding specialists i-Scaff.

The protest pontoon was erected for press photos this morning (9 November) at the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow. Leaders and negotiators from around the world are meeting to discuss making fundamental changes to try to avoid global warming.

Toby Budd, Managing Director at ScaffFloat said: “The pontoon was mobbed at short notice and installed with the help of our local Approved Installer, i-Scaff, who are one of Scotland’s largest independent specialist scaffold contractors.

The duo installed an 8m x 4m scaffold platform that was sunk just below the waters surface, and supported by a set of plastic ScaffFloats on deck. “This gave the impression of a ‘flooded’ floor which the charity utilised for a creative photo showing world leaders meeting on a flooded stage,” Tony said.

Ross Brown, MD at i-Scaff said ”We love helping our customers find innovative solutions to their problems, and this has been a great example of the sort of work we can do. We worked in partnership with the ScaffFloat team who did all the design, project management, RAMS and on water safety, whilst we supplied the scaffold and an experienced scaffolder to help with the build.”

The sunken protest pontoon installed this morning at COP26 in Glasgow.
Image credit: ScaffFloat

Toby added, ”This is such a great example of how we add value. Initially, the client only wanted a floating pontoon with a banner, then we suggested we sink the pontoon to create this great photo opportunity.

We knew the objective was press coverage so worked hard to give them a photo that would get traction in the worlds media – and within an hour it was on BBC News Glasgow Daily Times Sky News to name but a few.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Popular Categories

Latest news

Budget blowback: will tax hikes deepen construction downturn?

Construction supply chain firms are warning that potential tax increases in next week's Autumn Budget could derail the sector's fragile recovery, with material costs...

Scaffolding Association Australia expands leadership team

The Scaffolding Association Australia has appointed two non-executive board members and expanded the role of an existing director as the organisation strengthens its governance...

North Sea worker dies after incident on Valaris 121 rig

A 32-year-old worker has died following an incident on an offshore drilling rig in the North Sea. Police Scotland and the Health and Safety...

CMA approval clears the way for major HSS ProService and Speedy Hire partnership

A major shift in the UK equipment hire market has moved forward after the Competition and Markets Authority approved a new commercial agreement between...

Australia’s top scaffolding projects recognised at 2025 industry awards

Australia’s top scaffolding projects have been named at this year’s Australia’s Best Scaffolding Projects Awards. The event, held during Scaff25, drew a record thirty...

In Pictures: GKR completes major temporary roof structure at HS2 Euston

GKR Scaffolding has completed a large temporary roof structure at HS2’s Euston site. The installation sits beside the live station and supports enclosed works...

UK Construction output edges up just 0.1% in the third quarter

Construction output in Great Britain rose by only 0.1% in the third quarter of 2025, according to new figures from the Office for National...

Hong Kong launches construction safety drive after serious incidents

Hong Kong has begun a city-wide crackdown on unsafe practices in the construction sector after a series of fatal and serious accidents. The Labour Department...

4D Structures and PERI UK join forces to build one of Glasgow’s tallest towers

A 21-storey student accommodation building is rising on the banks of the River Clyde, as specialist contractor 4D Structures partners with PERI UK on...

ScaffPlan launches 3D scaffold design tool within SketchUp

ScaffPlan has unveiled a new tool that lets scaffolders design and plan scaffolding projects directly in the popular 3D modelling platform SketchUp. The software, called...

Latest news

ADVERTISEMENT

The magazine

Issue 27 | Past issues >>

Popular

North Sea worker dies after incident on Valaris 121 rig

A 32-year-old worker has died following an incident on...

In Pictures: GKR completes major temporary roof structure at HS2 Euston

GKR Scaffolding has completed a large temporary roof structure...

Australia’s top scaffolding projects recognised at 2025 industry awards

Australia’s top scaffolding projects have been named at this...

UK Construction output edges up just 0.1% in the third quarter

Construction output in Great Britain rose by only 0.1%...

CMA approval clears the way for major HSS ProService and Speedy Hire partnership

A major shift in the UK equipment hire market...

Related articles

ScaffFloat innovation takes floating access to new depths in Africa

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...
ADVERTISEMENTS

Latest topics

SIMIAN marks 20-year milestone in construction safety training

Leading construction and scaffolding safety specialist SIMIAN has marked...

Budget blowback: will tax hikes deepen construction downturn?

Construction supply chain firms are warning that potential tax...

Scaffolding Association Australia expands leadership team

The Scaffolding Association Australia has appointed two non-executive board...

North Sea worker dies after incident on Valaris 121 rig

A 32-year-old worker has died following an incident on...
ADVERTISEMENTS