--- title: "Bute Dry Dock Repairs" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05d574" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05d574" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d574.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d574.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "LLYWODRAETH CYMRU / WELSH GOVERNMENT" published: "2025-11-14" --- # Bute Dry Dock Repairs Buyer: LLYWODRAETH CYMRU / WELSH GOVERNMENT Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05d574 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05d574) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d574.json) ## Summary The Welsh Government, acting as the buyer, is planning a procurement process for the repair of the historic Bute Dry Dock located in Cardiff Bay, United Kingdom. This project falls under the works industry category, with specific classifications including harbour equipment maintenance, dry dock construction, and preservation services of historical sites. The procurement is in the planning stage, with an expected contract period from 1st February 2026 to 31st March 2026. A market engagement notice detailing the optional site visit was published on 14th November 2025, with interested suppliers required to notify their intention to attend by 12th November 2025. The estimated budget for this undertaking is between £100,000 and £150,000, with further communication anticipated by 5th January 2026. This tender presents a substantial growth opportunity for specialist marine contractors experienced in historical dock repairs. With an anticipated contract value up to £180,000, businesses experienced in welding, dock construction, and working on heritage structures stand to gain significant benefits. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a proven track record in safely handling complex marine refurbishments will be well-suited to compete for this opportunity. The project aims to ensure the dock's structural integrity for the next 10 to 20 years, providing potential for long-term business partnerships and engagement with the Welsh Government in the historic conservation sector. ## Notice Bute Dock lies in Cardiff Bay and is a former operational dry dock, part of the extensive wider dockland that formed the largest coal exporting port in the world during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Constructed in 1884, it comprises a mass mortared stone dry basin and is connected to the larger Roath Basin/Roath Lock to the north. Water levels in the dock were controlled via a series of sluices, pumps and valves with a floatable steel caisson forming the dock gate, allowing ships to enter the dock when water levels were equalised and maintaining the water level difference between the two when the Bute Dock was emptied. Bute Dock has long since been disused, but the structure is largely intact and both the dock walls and the dock gate caisson are deemed to be of historic value and are consequently Grade II listed by Cadw. The dock is owned by the Welsh Government and is part of it's wider land holding in the Cardiff Bay Area. Today, Bute Dock is hydraulically 'open' to the impounded Cardiff Bay and has a permanent similar water level. Although the dock gate caisson is an historic structure, it continues to form an important function by maintaining the higher water level in Roath Basin/Roath Lock and prevents water leakage into the lower impounded bay. Welsh Government has commissioned a number of condition surveys of the structure which confirms the caisson to be in fair to poor overall condition with numerous defects noted. Scope of Works To safeguard the caisson in the short to medium term, Welsh Government is seeking an experienced specialist marine contractor to design and implement a series of repairs in accordance with the recommendations of the condition survey reports and under the terms and conditions of a Listed Building Consent, which is currently being sought. The repairs are likely to comprise cutting damaged and perforated sections of the caisson and/or welding of new steel 'patches', generally at or above the water line but which may extend below the water line. Working from temporary pontoons may be necessary and a specialised team with approved welding certificates will be required. Heavy cranes are expected to be needed to lift materials into place. The objective is to undertake sufficient refurbishment/repair work to safeguard the structure for the next 10 to 20 years in which time it is anticipated a permanent solution for the management and development of the historic dock will be implemented. Requirements The successful contractor will have extensive experience of planning, designing and undertaking similar repair and refurbishment work on historic dock structures and will have an impressive track record of managing health and safety in such challenging environments. A specialist labour team will be required with approved welding certificates and divers may also be needed. ### Planning Information OPTIONAL SITE VISIT There is an option to attend an escorted walkover of the site. Should suppliers be interested in attending the site visit, please send notification to george.walker@wsp.com by 12th November 2025. EXPECTED TIMESCALES It is currently expected that the work will be undertaken early in 2026 ANTICIPATED BUDGET Estimated Budget for the Works is £100-150k ADDITIONAL INFORMATON Please express an interest in this notice if you would be interested in bidding for a potential future tender for this opportunity. There is also an option to ask questions via this notice. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073966-2025 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Works | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 14 Nov 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 5 Jan 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Feb 2026 - 31 Mar 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £150,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | LLYWODRAETH CYMRU / WELSH GOVERNMENT | | Locality | CARDIFF | | Post town | Cardiff | | Postcode | CF10 3NQ | | Country | Wales | | ITL 1 | TLL Wales | | ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales | | ITL 3 | TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan | | Local authority | Cardiff | | Electoral ward | Cathays | | Westminster constituency | Cardiff South and Penarth | | Delivery location | TLL Wales | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 45 - Construction work - 50 - Repair and maintenance services - 92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services ### Codes - 45241400 - Dock construction work - 45248200 - Dry docks construction work - 45262680 - Welding - 50246000 - Harbour equipment maintenance services - 92522100 - Preservation services of historical sites ## Release History - 14 Nov 2025 at 12:55 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073966-2025 - 28 Oct 2025 at 15:14 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069045-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073966-2025 14th November 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069045-2025 28th October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://gov.wales - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05d574. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d574.json.