By Staff Writer
Planning and construction of a new Apia Port breakwater wall along the mouth of the harbour will become the centre piece of a major safety project to start in a few weeks’ times.
Close to $200m tala is earmarked for the overall project, with the construction of the breakwater wall the major component.
The building of warehouses on the wharf to set up the new container x-ray scanner and electricity power hook-up systems are included
So too is a new tugboat that is now under construction in Hong Kong.
The whole project started before the Samoa Port Authority CEO So’oalo Mr. Kuresa came onto the scene.
“ The Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded a study in 2014 of the project until 2019 when it agreed to fund the construction under a grant of $180m tala,” So’oalo explained.
“Samoa contributed with counter-part funding to bring the full cost to close to $200m tala.”
The project moved into tender process for a contractor won by China Harbour Engineering ahead of several other bidders from New Zealand, Australia and Europe.
A New Zealand company will supervise the project with local companies brought in as sub-contractors.
“There were concerns at first the project will be delayed because of the COVID-19 virus pandemic with contractors travelling from China.
“China Harbour Engineering offered to fly in their workers on a chartered flight direct to Samoa who will all arrive fully vaccinated.”
The chartered flight arrived last week with an advance party of 60 company workers who were processed through the quarantine system.
The early arrivals will be set up operational headquarters close to the wharf where more workers due to arrive in the coming months will join them.
“The whole project will take between 18-24 months with plans for an official launching in late June or early July this year.
“The new breakwater wall is designed to offer our Matautu wharf a 100 years of protection from the swells sweeping in from the open ocean.”
So’oalo added that the economic trickle down effects will benefit many of the local companies to be sub-contracted for a range of work requirements.
Another new improvement planned is turning the Matautu-tai facility into a ‘green port’, designed to take full advantage of renewable energy technology.
“The plan is to encourage solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy sources that will increase our earning benefits from the port.
“The demand for electricity is high with all the ‘reefer containers’ that must be hooked up to the power system as soon as they are landed for storage.”
So’oalo admitted that the shift to the new Vaiusu Port waiting on the outcome of a feasibility study to proceed is the future for Samoa.
He said the Apia Port has reached its maximum capacity whereas Vaiusu will have no space problems to expand port services.
Moving to Vaiusu will also overcome safety risks from a fuel pipeline that runs from storage tanks on the wharf across the length of Apia to the Sogi depot.
Oil tankers will be able to upload quickly only a short distance from Vaiusu to the near by fuel storage depot.