Berth works are in preparation for Fremantle harbour deepening

Reconstruction of Berth 10 at Fremantle Port's North Quay is under way as part of a multi-million dollar infrastructure program associated with planned deepening of the Inner Harbour.

Transport Minister Simon O'Brien today announced details of the project during a visit to the port.

Mr O'Brien said the upgrading was the first part of the State Government's deepening program which would enable bigger container ships to berth in the Inner Harbour and increase operational efficiency for ships using North Quay.

"Consistent with a world trend, the average size of container shipping calling at Fremantle has increased by about 85 per cent in the past 15 years," he said.

"Over the past decade, container trade through Fremantle has grown annually by an average of about 10 per cent.

"Ensuring the Inner Harbour can accommodate bigger ships at full cargo carrying capacity is vital for operational efficiency, with flow-on benefits for our importers and exporters and the community."

The Minister said Western Australia's economy depended on trade.

"Fremantle currently handles about $25billion in trade annually and the port is a significant contributor to employment," he said.

"Every ship visit represents 3.3 full time equivalent jobs and in direct and flow-on terms, almost 6,000 jobs are linked to the activities of the port.

"The State Government must ensure the shipping lines operating these big container ships continue to include Fremantle on their call schedules."

Mr O'Brien said as well as requiring increased channel and harbour depth, the bigger container ships starting to call at Fremantle imposed heavier loads on the wharf infrastructure.

The reconstruction of the 52-year-old Berth 10 will enable it to be used for container shipping, as well as roll-on/roll-off vessels and other general cargo ships.

Other works planned for North Quay included the strengthening of the container berths 4 to 9 for larger container ships and new cranes needed to service them.  The North Quay work will also involve installation of steel sheet piling along the berth faces to hold back the embankments beneath the wharves in preparation for deepening.

The Berth 10 reconstruction and other North Quay berth works are being funded by Fremantle Ports and the State Government at a total cost of about $98.5million.

Thiess and Georgiou have formed a partnership to carry out the construction work on this project.

Subject to environmental approvals, Fremantle Ports intends to begin the harbour and channel deepening at the beginning of November 2009 with the aim of completing all works by the end of 2010. Dredged material from the harbour would be used for further reclamation at Rous Head.