A massive crane on the Charlottetown waterfront is a signal that the $12-million wharf expansion is in full swing.
The berth expansion project will extend the existing berth by 270 metres, which will allow for two vessels up to 330 metres in length to berth at the same time.
To put those measurements in a bit of perspective, the Holland America cruise ship Veedam, which was in port in Charlottetown on Tuesday, is 219 metres long.
Port Charlottetown is undertaking the berth expansion project, which began in June, with the project scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2019.
“This is meant to allow more than one ship to dock at a time, so, essentially, when this is done we will have over doubled our berthing space,’’ said Corryn Clemence, business development manager for Port Charlottetown and the Charlottetown Harbour Authority.
“We will be able to accommodate two 330-metre (long) vessels at the same time, (which is) a big, big improvement because the reality is these ships are not getting any smaller.’’
“This is meant to allow more than one ship to dock at a time, so, essentially, when this is done we will have over doubled our berthing space.”
Corryn Clemence
In order to complete the expansion, various stages of construction are required. The project consists of four additional mooring buoys and four additional breasting dolphins. Pile driving in the harbour is required for this installation. The vibratory method of pile driving will be utilized in an effort to minimize audible levels.
Many of the large metal cylinders, or piles, are being stored by the 2018 sign at the foot of the P.E.I. Convention Centre. There are 43 of them.
Their presence may give people the impression that, when finished, the mooring for the ship further to the west will extend past the convention centre. In reality, the nose of the ship further to the west will come close to, but not reach, the convention centre.
The bulk of the impactful work will be pile driving, which is crucial to installation of the breasting dolphins. Pile driving began in mid-July and will take place at various times into the fall. The estimated timing is a total of 19 days of pile driving, and all work will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The pilings will be 24 metres long in the water, including more than three metres, or 10 feet, below the sea bottom. They should be under water by the time it freezes.
“This is the first stage,’’ Clemence said. “This will be the biggest attention-grabber right now because you see the big crane out there and the pile drivings.’’
Work on the concrete extension and the bridge and berth itself might not get underway until next year.
