Margaree Wharf Reconstruction
Location: Margaree, Newfoundland
Client: Small Craft Harbours, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Timeframe: Investigation: Fall 2022. Detailed Design: Winter/Spring – 2023. Construction: 2024/2025.
Key Personnel: Doug Power, Stephen Warford
Project Description
Harbourside Engineering was engaged by Small Craft Harbours, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (SCH) to develop the detailed design for the reconstruction of the finger pier wharf in Margaree, Newfoundland following damages to the structure after being battered by hurricane Fiona in the fall of 2022. The existing pier was approximately 81m-long connecting to a 66m-long marginal wharf. Given Harbourside’s extensive experience in marine engineering, they were the best choice among the consultants considered for the wharf reconstruction project.
Harbourside’s Role
The project commenced with an investigation and assessment of the damages to the facility in October of 2022 falling the storm event. Considering the age, condition and damages to the facility a decision was made by Small Craft Harbours to reconstruct the existing finger pier.
The replacement pier was designed approximately 85 meters long. It would again be a timber crib construction, taking advantage of the near surface bedrock foundation conditions at the site. With consideration of input from the local Harbour Authority, a site arrangement was developed that maintained existing berthage capacity. Harbourside Engineering raised the height of the new pier by approximately 0.5 meters to the greatest extent possible while still transitioning to minimize work requirements on the marginal wharf and uplands.
Social Impact
The replacement design provides shore power and lighting along the length of the new pier and improvements to the facility have been incorporated to make it more resilient to extreme surge and wave events in the future. With significant infrastructure repairs and budget demands on Small Craft Harbours following hurricane Fiona, construction was delayed taking place in 2024 and 2025. Harbourside provided technical support to SCH throughout the construction period, responding with timely design changes as requested. This was in order to meet some additional project inputs following tender award while avoiding construction delays and budget overruns.