Project details
Stewart World Port serves the resource industries in British Columbia, Alberta, and the Yukon, exporting commodities such as mineral concentrates, coal, and forestry products and importing break bulk cargo.
CWA completed the detailed engineering and procurement of the marine structures for the port, including:
- A 20-metre by 240-metre wharf capable of accommodating Handymax vessels.
- An 18-metre by 72-metre approach trestle.
- Mooring and berthing dolphins.
- Shiploader rail beams.
- Transfer house foundations.
In order to avoid the environmental impacts of dredging, the dock was situated in extremely deep water, which required the piles to be two to three times the normal length for a berth of this size. At the deepest sections, the total pile lengths were over 80 metres and the pile free-standing heights were taller than 40 metres.
The port officially opened on time and under budget in September 2015, representing a significant investment in the community of Stewart and the future of economic growth in British Columbia.
Challenges
Stewart World Port is located in a remote region of Canada where access for construction crews and material deliveries is limited. As a result, the total project cost depended on the amount of on-site assembly work required from the construction crews.
Solutions
CWA optimized the construction sequencing for the trestle and wharf structures, which were constructed in segments that could then act as a temporary platform for the equipment to install the next portion of the structure. Innovative pre-fabricated steel pile caps were used to eliminate the curing time required for cast-in-place concrete pile caps.
A total of 13 kilometres of steel pipe piling and 1,580 tonnes of fabricated modular steel were required for the project. By employing alternative procurement strategies, CWA produced capital cost savings of $6.8 million. Quality assurance measures ensured uncompromised material and fabrication quality.