One of Port of Port Hedland’s first shipping berths, Berth 3 is getting a major upgrade as part of the State Government’s WA Recovery Plan, with works commencing to remediate the rock wall and to refurbish the wharf piles.
The $11.4 million contract has been awarded to WA company Total AMS Pty Ltd (TAMS), with the works forming part of the $20 million project to upgrade Port Hedland’s Inner Harbour retaining and sea walls.
Berth 3 at the Port of Port Hedland is a common user berth, used primarily for the export of salt and import of fuels and general cargo. The berth was constructed in the 1960s and this will be the first time the rock wall remediation has been conducted.
The project will address subsidence and degradation of the rock wall that has been caused by decades of natural weather events, including Cyclone Veronica in 2019, and by port activities such as tug wash and vessel-induced waves.
Project work will include correction of revetment profiles through controlled collapse of natural rock shelves, placing armour rock on the new slopes and installing concrete filled mattresses to envelop and protect the new slope.
In addition, the steel piles supporting the deck will be treated for corrosion damage and then protected with a grease impregnated cloth and fibreglass protection system.
A priority for the project will be the continued operation of the berth during the works.
The contract was awarded to TAMS which is a privately-owned West Australian company that provides marine construction and harbour services.
TAMS will source 15 per cent of materials, 75 per cent of its suppliers and 100 per cent of its contractors from within the Pilbara. The balance of the resources will be drawn predominantly from within WA.
TAMS employs seven per cent Aboriginal employees and has committed to engage local Aboriginal-owned businesses as subcontractors for support components of the work.
The project forms part of the State Government $5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan.
The Berth 3 works are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Comment from Pilbara Ports Authority Chief Executive Officer Mr Roger Johnston:
The ports of the Pilbara are critical to the State’s ongoing economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $20 million Port Hedland Inner Harbour Remediation project will ensure Berth 3, which is a common user berth, remains a reliable and safe asset.
This is a complex and challenging project, with the use of specialised equipment to manoeuvre big rocks, while taking into account tidal restrictions and the safety of all port users.
A priority of this project is to ensure Berth 3 remains operational at all times while works are undertaken, with there being no impact to the import and export of goods.