Expanded Lautoka wharf to accommodate Handymax carriers

Works at Fiji’s Lautoka wharf are on target for completion in August.

Amex Resources General Manager Alivereti Tuidravu said the new 300-metre-long berth wall at the wharf would dwarf the existing Queens Wharf and the sea bed would be much deeper to cater for Handymax vessels, which will load magnetite iron-rich sand.

It is expected that about 500,000 cubic metres of material will be removed by dredging, which is controlled by Fiji Ports Corporation under the Sea Ports Management Act.

The Fiji Sun reports that Amex plans to buy and use vessels including a bucket wheel dredge, a 65-metre floating concentrator, a work boat to service both, a pusher tug, four 52-metre hopper barges, refueller vessel and crew boat.

“The larger vessels are being built in China. The refueller and crew boat are being built locally,” said Mr Tuidravu.

“The vessels will be transported by a semi-submersible vessel approximately 200 metres in length.”