Name and Location
Maydon Wharf infrastructure reconstruction project, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Client
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).

Project Description
The project involves the reconstruction and deepening of berths 1 to 2, 3 to 4 and 13 to 14 of the 15 berths of the Maydon Wharf precinct.

Once completed, the berths will have a draught of 14.5 m enabling them to handle vessels with draughts up to 13 m; however, the Maydon Wharf entrance channel will still need to be deepened thereafter to enable these vessels to sail in fully laden.

The quay walls in the precinct were originally designed to handle vessels of about 20 000 deadweight tons (DWT) versus the 55 000 DWT vessels now calling at the port. Bigger vessels call mainly half laden, owing to the current draught and width restrictions.

Work at the project has involved the demolition of paving; rail-track work and services; the construction of new steel sheet-piled quay walls; the demolition of existing piled crane beams; the extraction of timber, concrete piles and a limited number of steel sheet piles; and the removal of the existing quay wall and capping beams.

Work includes driving of inclined grouted steel anchor piles (being used in South Africa for the first time), backfilling behind the quay walls, construction of new reinforced concrete capping beams, supply and installation of bollards, fenders, ladders and quay services, construction of railway tracks, layer works and paving, dredging of material adjacent to the berths and construction of rock scour protection.

Value
R1.6-billion.

Duration
Berths 1 to 2 and 13 to 14 are currently under construction, following the reconstruction of Berth 12, which was completed in November 2012.

Berths 3 to 4 will start construction in early 2016.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Stefanutti Stocks AXSYS Joint Venture (main contractor).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
TNPA corporate affairs manager – Port of Durban, Ayanda Mantshongo, tel +27 31361 8527 or email ayanda.mantshongo@transnet.net.