Haskoning, McConnell Dowell complete $70m port upgrade works in Tonga

Engineering consultancy Haskoning and Australian construction company McConnell Dowell have successfully completed a maritime infrastructure upgrade in the Kingdom of Tonga, transforming the nation’s only international port into a modern facility.

Delivered in partnership with the Tongan Government, Ministry of Infrastructure, and the Ports Authority, the project was funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific. The project is valued at US$70 million, making it one of the largest infrastructure investments in Tonga’s history.

The Queen Sālote International Wharf is Tonga's principal gateway for 95 per cent of all imported goods, and has withstood decades of degradation with limited maintenance.

Working closely with the Government of Tonga, the ADB, and local stakeholders, Haskoning developed a comprehensive rehabilitation plan to protect the port. The project has not only rebuilt but also extended key sections of the Queen Sālote International Wharf, with the new design allowing for larger vessels, increased cargo throughput, and enhanced safety.

The wharf upgrade has more than doubled the port’s operational efficiency, allowing vessels up to 220 metres in length and increasing capacity to 45,000 TEUs annually.