The joint venture project will deliver an upgrade of the existing Berth 3E to make it suitable for operation, including berthing, mooring and stern-loading of a roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) ship up to a length of 212m, for both passengers and freight between Geelong, VIC and Devonport (new Spirit of Tasmania vessels).

The scope of the works under the contract includes:

• Design and certification
• Demolition of existing structures
• Minor dredging of the berth pocket (approx. 45,000m3)
• Reclamation
• Revetment scour protection
• Wharf construction – piles, precast, in-situ decks
• Wharf furniture – fenders/ bollards
• Minor services – water, power, lighting and stormwater services
• Remediation of existing wharf elements

The project has adopted the use of 8T rock bags as scour protection in the berth in lieu of large rock and associated additional dredging. This is the first time in Australia that these rock bags have been used in this application. The bags are also made from recycled materials and are filled with rock from a local Hazell Bros quarry.

The wharf piles are coated with a 3-layer polyethylene (3LPE) coating system to increase the durability of the piled structure and lower life cycle costs for the asset owner.

Works have been carried out with strict environmental monitoring to ensure compliance to relevant water quality, turbidity, noise and dust standards. Site reuse of material has been maximised where possible with dredge rock and concrete demolition waste being crushed on site and reused in the reclamation areas.

The project is due for completion in May 2024.