An award-winning pier in the UK has been protected by coatings supplied by Akzo Nobel.
After years of storm damage and neglect, the newly-restored Southwold Pier in Sussex—which originally opened in 1900—has been coated with Sandtex Trade Flexigloss and Sandtex Trade High Cover Smooth to help it withstand the challenging climatic conditions of the North Sea.
The pier was partially destroyed by a drifting sea mine during World War II and suffered storm damage in the 1950s and 1970s. A fund-raising campaign was then launched in 1999 to help restore the structure to its former glory.
The new pier is now 190 meters long and was voted the 2002 Pier of the Year by members of the National Pier Society. It features four pavilions housing function suites, a museum and exhibition, tea rooms and gift shops.
“While we can experience exceptionally hot temperatures here on the Suffolk coast, the North Sea can also throw up some pretty hostile weather conditions,” explained Nick Haward, the key contractor who oversaw the rebuilding project.
“The pavilions are a steel frame and timber skin construction, and protruding out into the North Sea, they needed a flexible paint finish which could withstand the harsh corrosive action of the sea water.”
The new pier can now accommodate visits by Britain's only surviving sea-going steam passenger ship, the P.S. Waverley paddle steamer and its sister ship, the M.V. Balmoral.
(Released: November 22, 2002)