Marine Civil Engineering Design Services
Marine engineering design that delivers safe, practical and cost-effective solutions from concept through construction.
TILT Engineering & Design provides civil, structural and geotechnical engineering design for contractors, developers, councils, port owners and asset owners throughout the UK.
From feasibility studies and concept design through to detailed design, temporary works and construction support, we help clients deliver marine infrastructure safely, efficiently and with confidence.
Need urgent engineering calculations? Independent design checking? Or a specialist marine engineering partner? We're ready to help.
Who We Help
Contractors needing urgent design support, port and asset owners managing marine infrastructure, councils delivering waterside schemes, developers planning new marine or coastal works, and designers needing specialist marine input.
What We Design
Our engineers design, assess and review a wide range of marine, coastal and waterfront infrastructure. Whether supporting a new development, extending an existing asset or providing temporary works during construction, our focus is always on delivering safe, buildable and cost-effective engineering solutions.
Our experience includes:
Quay walls and berth structures
Pontoons and marinas
Slipways and boat launching facilities
River walls and flood defence structures
Sheet piled retaining walls
Dolphins and mooring structures
Marine foundations
Temporary works and construction sequencing
Access structures and waterfront developments
Repairs and strengthening of existing assets
Every project is designed with constructability, whole-life performance and future maintenance in mind, ensuring clients receive solutions that are practical as well as technically robust.
Need Engineering Support Quickly?
We regularly support contractors who require urgent design calculations, independent design checks or on-site engineering advice to keep programmes moving.
Why Clients choose TILT
Engineering support that helps you deliver projects with confidence
You need practical engineering, not unnecessary complexity.
Marine projects rarely go exactly to plan. Whether you're delivering a new berth, repairing an ageing quay wall or managing temporary works on site, you need engineers who understand the realities of construction and provide solutions that can actually be built.
TILT focuses on practical, commercially sensible engineering that helps keep projects moving.
You want direct access to experienced engineers.
When deadlines are tight, you don't want to wait days for answers or be passed between departments.
At TILT, you'll work directly with senior chartered engineers who understand your project from day one, giving you faster decisions, consistent advice and a single point of contact throughout.
You need confidence that your design will work.
Marine infrastructure operates in some of the harshest environments, where design decisions affect safety, programme, maintenance and long-term costs.
Our designs are developed with construction, durability and whole-life performance in mind, helping you reduce project risk and avoid costly changes later.
You need a team that understands the marine industry.
Working in ports, harbours, rivers and coastal environments brings challenges that general civil engineering consultancies don't encounter every day.
From marine licensing and environmental constraints to operational ports and tidal working, we understand the wider picture and help identify potential issues before they become delays.
You need engineers who become part of your project team.
Whether we're providing independent design checks, supporting your contractor on site or delivering a full engineering design package, our aim is always the same: to become a trusted extension of your team.
We take the time to understand your objectives, communicate clearly and deliver solutions that help you achieve them safely, efficiently and with confidence.
Our Design Process
Straightforward engineering support from first conversation to final design.
Every project is different, but our approach remains the same: understand your objectives, identify the engineering challenges early and deliver practical solutions that keep your project moving.
1. Understanding Your Project
Every project starts with a conversation.
We'll discuss your objectives, programme, budget, existing information and any technical or environmental constraints to understand exactly what success looks like.
Whether you're planning a new marine structure, repairing an existing asset or need urgent engineering support, we'll agree the most effective way forward.
2. Site Review & Technical Assessment
Where required, we'll review drawings, surveys, existing reports and site information. We can also visit site to understand operational constraints, inspect existing structures and identify any risks that could influence the design.
We don't start with assumptions. We start by understanding the asset. Site inspections, existing condition assessments and operational constraints often reveal opportunities that aren't obvious from drawings alone.
This early review often identifies opportunities to save time, reduce costs or avoid unnecessary design work.
3. Engineering Design
Our engineers develop practical, buildable solutions supported by detailed engineering calculations and drawings.
Depending on your project, this may include:
Concept design
Detailed structural design
Temporary works design
Independent design reviews
Design checks
Value engineering
Buildability reviews
4. Collaboration & Design Development
Engineering design rarely happens in isolation.
We work closely with contractors, project managers, architects, environmental consultants and asset owners throughout the project to ensure designs remain practical, coordinated and aligned with your programme.
5. Construction Support
Our involvement doesn't necessarily stop when the drawings are issued.
We continue supporting clients during construction by answering technical queries, reviewing design changes, attending site where required and helping resolve unexpected engineering challenges quickly.
6. Long-Term Support
Many of our clients return to us for future inspections, condition assessments, asset management advice, maintenance planning and additional design work as their infrastructure evolves.
Our aim is to become a long-term engineering partner rather than simply completing a single commission.
Recent Marine Engineering Projects
Port Infrastructure Design
Client: Associated British Ports
Development of engineering solutions to support the expansion and improvement of operational port infrastructure, balancing construction practicality with ongoing port operations.
Services provided
Engineering design
Construction support
Marine infrastructure advice
Technical reviews
Outcome: Engineering solutions that enabled construction to progress safely while maintaining operational port activities.
Harbour Wall Assessment & Design
Project: Langstone Harbour Walls
Supporting the assessment of an existing wall structure to determine its condition, identify defects and develop practical engineering options for repair and long-term management.
Services provided
Structural assessment
Inspection review
Engineering calculations
Repair strategy
Outcome: The assessment identified the most cost-effective repair strategy, helping the client prioritise investment and extend the life of the structure.
Temporary Works & Marine Construction Support
Project: Great Yarmouth Piling Gate
Providing engineering calculations, temporary works design and technical advice to support contractors delivering complex marine construction projects safely and efficiently.
Services provided
Temporary works design
Stability calculations
Site support
Design reviews
Outcome: Responsive engineering support helped the contractor maintain programme and safely complete the works.
Waterfront Development
Project: Stratford Mills Canal
Working with project teams to develop practical engineering solutions for new marine and waterfront infrastructure from concept design through to detailed design.
Services provided
Concept design
Detailed design
Construction support
Multi-disciplinary coordination
Outcome: Early engineering input reduced design risk and supported efficient project delivery.
From one-day engineering reviews to multi-year infrastructure developments, our focus is always the same: delivering practical engineering solutions that reduce risk and help projects succeed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We provide engineering design for a wide range of marine, coastal and waterfront infrastructure, including quay walls, berths, pontoons, slipways, flood defences, retaining structures, temporary works and marine foundations. We support projects from concept through to construction.
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We work with contractors, port owners, harbour authorities, councils, developers, architects, consulting engineers and asset owners across the UK, providing specialist marine engineering expertise whenever it's needed.
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Yes. We regularly undertake independent design reviews and technical checks, providing an experienced second opinion to improve constructability, identify potential risks and ensure designs are suitable for their intended purpose.
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Yes. We understand that construction programmes can change quickly and regularly provide fast-turnaround engineering calculations and technical support where project timescales allow.
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Yes. Our engineers regularly visit construction sites, ports and marine assets across the UK to undertake inspections, provide technical advice and support contractors during construction.
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No. We support everything from one-day engineering reviews and temporary works calculations through to multi-million-pound port developments and long-term asset management programmes.
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Yes. We provide temporary works design, stability calculations, design reviews and construction support to help contractors complete marine works safely and efficiently.
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Yes. Although we're based on the South Coast, we support projects nationwide and regularly travel to ports, harbours, marinas and construction sites across the UK. We work overseas too, having worked on one of the largest LNG projects in Canada recently.
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Yes. We regularly support clients with Marine Management Organisation licence applications, environmental requirements and technical information needed to help projects progress efficiently.
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The earlier, the better. Involving a marine engineer during the feasibility or concept stage often helps identify technical constraints early, reduce project risk and avoid unnecessary redesign later.
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Typically we'll ask for a brief description of the project, its location, any existing drawings or surveys, programme requirements and the specific engineering support you're looking for. If you're unsure, we're happy to discuss your project before preparing a proposal.
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Marine environments present unique engineering, environmental and operational challenges. Working with specialist marine engineers helps ensure these factors are considered from the outset, resulting in safer, more practical and more cost-effective engineering solutions.
Don't see your question?
Every marine engineering project is different. If you're unsure whether we can help, speak to one of our engineers. We'll be happy to discuss your project and point you in the right direction, even if that's not with us.