Port of Charlottetown Cruise Berth Expansion
Location: Charlottetown, PE
Client: Charlottetown Harbour Authority Inc.
Value: $10M Capital Cost
Duration: 2016-2020
Key Staff: Greg MacDonald, Ron Keefe, Stephen O’brien,
Project Description
As with many ports in Atlantic Canada, the Port of Charlottetown has seen exponential growth in the cruise ship business in recent years with more than 128,000 passengers and 55,000 crew members visiting Charlottetown in 2019. The Port of Charlottetown had great success with its single berth that could accommodate cruise vessels as well as the two other main industries it serves: aggregate and petroleum products. However, there were predictions that if the port did not expand and more and more vessels were forced to anchor and tender passengers to land, the growth would flatline and potentially decline.
The Charlottetown Harbour Authority recognized the impact to their business and proceeded with the expansion of the facility to allow for simultaneous berthing of 2 cruise vessels.
Harbourside’s Role
Amongst many marine projects successfully completed by the team over the past 5 years, the work at the Port Charlottetown is arguably the most well rounded civil marine project that showcases the team’s exceptional experience in assessment, design, project management, and construction of marine works. The services provided include project lead, marine and civil works inspection and assessment, contract administration, providing onsite services during construction, deficiency inspections, construction contract closeout and conflict resolution. Harbourside was also involved in the complex phasing of the project while maintaining day to day operations of the port.
Harbourside worked collaboratively with CHAI throughout a feasibility study to determine how best to provide a second berthing face for their main industries and maintain a reasonable budget. Harbourside provided professional services from the initial feasibility study through to the project completion.
Feasibility Study
A study was first conducted to determine the feasibility of constructing a second berthing face for large vessels at Port Charlottetown. Working collectively with CHAI to determine the best option to suit the Port’s current and growing needs, Harbourside fully designed all structural components pertaining to the expansion, based on the study’s findings.
Study and Design Phase Included:
Wind analysis to determine loading on the vessels.
Mooring line analysis to determine bollard loadings.
Breasting and berthage energy analysis to determine fender sizes and subsequent loadings on the structures.
Analysis of deck elevations for dolphins and bridges with consideration of existing dock elevations, predicted sea level rise, predicted storm surges and cruise shell door elevations for off-loading passengers.
Structural analysis of the marine structures including checks on existing concrete crib works and dolphin design for pier extensions.
Structural design of bridge spans linking dolphins.
Construction phasing to ensuring ongoing port operations were maintained as best as possible during construction. This involved providing detailed direction to the bidders in the tender documents.
Sub-Trades and Construction
Harbourside managed all sub-trades required for the expansion. In addition, we prepared the tender packages, facilitated the tendering process, and reviewed tenders and award thereof. Furthermore, Harbourside acted as the main client representative during the construction phase. Being involved at every step enabled us to provide complete contract administration throughout construction. This included progress payment reviews, dispute resolution and managing changes/claims. Ever responsive, Harbourside provided quick solutions to concealed problems during the construction phase by conducting onsite inspection services. These included complete deficiency inspections and commission work, followed by contract closeout.
Unique Challenges
This project began immediately before the COVID 19 pandemic. As the world adjusted to social distancing, self-isolating, and travel restrictions, there were many uncertainties. Still, despite the impact the pandemic had on working conditions, and the tourism industry, Harbourside managed to complete the project within an adjusted timeline. Even amidst the harsh circumstances, and the difficulties presented by COVID 19, Harbourside never faltered in the strive towards excellence.
But pandemic related challenges were not the only ones facing the Port Charlottetown expansion: there are many difficulties with any marine expansion project. Charlottetown experiences an extreme tidal range of approximately 3.0m. Further to that, they experience large storm surges from northerly winds acting on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and effectively ‘filling’ the Northumberland Straight, causing surges in the Charlottetown harbour upwards of 0.6m. Further to that, predicted sea level rise in Charlottetown over the design life of the structure is approximately 0.5m. All this information is very important in deciding the appropriate deck elevation and structural depth of bridge spans between dolphins. The deck needs to be low enough to accommodate the shell door elevations, but also high enough such that the structural depth of the bridge spans does not put the underside of girder close to the high-water mark, subject to increased exposure to saltwater and potential ice impact in the winter months.
Further constraints include: ship maneuverability, the requirement for vessels to park in one direction only due to relatively strong currents, vessel mooring line arrangements, the location of floating moorings with respect to adjacent marinas on the waterfront, providing clear and safe access for passengers across the dock during other port operations including petroleum offloading, locating the expansion in the existing channel to reduce dredging requirements, and addressing the concerns of several stakeholders that are involved, including the facility owner, regulators, users, local marinas and waterfront users.
Social Impact
The rehabilitation and expansion of the Port Charlottetown cruise ship terminal represents a major economic boon to the city. This expansion ensures that Charlottetown’s tourism industry can continue to grow and flourish despite environmental and economic change, and that it can continue to support to aggregate and petroleum vessels. Overall, this project will help avoid commercial stagnation, by opening the port of Charlottetown to a wider international community.
