Mackay Tug Berth Design and Construct

Scope of Work

North Queensland Bulk Ports engaged PMG to design and construct a dual sided floating Tug Berth facility at the Port of Mackay. The tug berth comprises a steel pontoon connected to the shore by a large gangway structure and landside abutment. The new tug berth is designed to handle two pilot boats and two tugs, with the tugs being larger (deeper draught) than those used previously at the port.

• Geotechnical investigation including overwater boreholes.
• Pontoon - 35m long steel structure with all required furniture and services.
• Piles - Four 1067mm diameter steel piles with headstocks.
• Gangway - 42m long with suitable widthto handle vehicular traffic and able to be disconnected from the pontoon and stowed during severe weather events.
• Rock armour protection for abutment stability.
• Services to the pontoon including electrical reticulation and water supply.
• Concrete abutment including pavement upgrade, carparking, fencing, guardrails, security gate and camera.

The work area was adjacent to an active wharf (Wharf 5) and a number of temporary moorings which presented logistical issues as port controlled vessel movements had priority at all times.

The project was completed during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and the team were able to successfully manage the project impacts including increased lead times for specialty procurement such as mooring system components.

Pacific Marine Group fabricated the pontoon and gangway structures in house, marking this as one of the largest fabrication projects ever undertaken. Our key subcontractors included Caporn (rock drilling), Comlek Group, C&C Civil and Mining, Veris, Eilbeck and INDT.