Terminal work may cost $72,000

Press, 27 March 1979, Page 2

Terminal work may cost $72,000

Blenheim reporter Reconstruction work on a deflecting structure at the Picton ferry berth terminal could cost $72,000. the chief engineer of the Marlborough Harbour Board (Mr J. I. Smart) told the board’s meeting yesterday. The structure, known as a “dolphin,” was damaged on March 11 when the Aratika struck it heavily during a strong south-easterly. A big section of the dolphin was removed from the stern of the ship by one of the board's cranes. Reconstruction of the dolphin, including piledriving and the building up of timber units, will cost about $30,700. Materials, including 35 piles at $632, will cost $33,300. The cost of dismantling the dolphin and withdrawing the piles will be $BOOO.

Severed cables providing power to lights on the dolhin were disconnected after the accident, loose sections of the dolphin were pulled and tied to one side, and loose floating timber was collected before the Aratika sailed. Both ferry berths are considered safe in the meantime, although the degree of protection between ship and wharf is reduced until the dolphin is reconstructed. Mr Smart said that the dolphin, built of turpentine hardwood piles and marine-! treated pine timber, was ex-] tensively damaged. 33 of the] 44 piles were broken, and about 70 per cent of the timber packing was fractured. “The three dolphin structures have performed their function reasonably over the years in deflecting the ferries and protecting both ship and concrete wharf structure,” said Mr Smart. “Minor damage has been suffered, but this is the first direct heavy hit since the construction of No. 2 berth.”

“The short-arm dolphin being between both berths is subject to about 2000 berthage manoeuvres a year.”