ONE of the most significant infrastructure projects at Fremantle Harbour since it opened in 1897, the $43 million reconstruction of Berth 10 at North Quay, is operational.
The original Berth 10 was build in 1957 and was unsuitable for big container ships.
The reconstruction is part of the $250 million Inner Harbour deepening and associated berth works, which is being funded by the state government and Fremantle Ports.
It is expected to improve the efficiency of the state’s largest general cargo port.
“The average size of container ships calling at Fremantle has increased by more than 85 per cent in the past 15 years,” Transport Minister Simon O’Brien said.
“Retaining direct services by the bigger ships will enable our imports and exports to remain competitive, with flow on benefits to consumers.
“Bigger ships need bigger cranes to service them and this imposes heavier loads on wharf structures, hence the importance of the berth strengthening and deepening of the harbour channels.”
Fremantle Ports chief executive officer Chris Leatt-Hayter said the deepening of the Inner Harbour and approach channels, with the associated berth works, was essential to ensure that Fremantle Port retained services by the larger container ships now servicing Australian trade.
He said the complex reconstruction project was a credit to the Fremantle Ports team and contractor Theiss Georgiou JV.
“It was a constrained site with access issues which entailed work over or near water, coordination of multiple activities for piling, above ground and underwater concrete cutting, concrete removal, precast installation and on-site concreting,” Mr Leatt-Hayter said.
The deepening of the Inner Harbour also continues to progress well with Phase 2 of dredging to start early in August.
“Phase 2 will involve the use of a cutter suction dredge to break up the limestone layer and the material will be relocated to an approved offshore disposal site in a natural seabed depression at the western end of Gage Roads,” Mr Leatt-Hayter said.
