BG&E inspected the condition of the Port of Townsville’s Berths 6 & 7 to investigate possible options for increasing the operating lifespan of the wharf by an additional 15 to 20 years.

The wharf was a reinforced concrete structure built in 1911 and extended and modified in 1964 and 1967, and was in a deteriorated condition. As a result of the investigation, we proposed a strengthening solution for the wharf by utilising external prestressing. This proposal provided a strengthening system that replaced the tensile capacity of much of the corroded steel reinforcement in combination with concrete repair work.

By adopting this approach, the inherent capacity of the existing materials that were still in sound condition was used without relying on the deteriorated sections. This alternative approach provided an opportunity to refurbish the existing wharf structure in a cost-effective manner, given the deterioration noted in the investigations carried out.

Our analysis led to Townsville Port Authority stating that they would lift the ‘unsafe to operate’ order, allowing operations to continue at the wharf in the short term.