Thorndon Container Wharf: Temporary Works for Recovery of Container Operations (New Zealand)

The Thorndon Container Wharf sustained severe damage in the November 2016 M7.8 Kaikoura earthquake. Substantialworks, of a temporary nature, were required to restore thewharf for container handling operations. The temporary securing works included gravel columns within the reclamation fill and restraining and underpinning of the wharf. All of these works were designed and constructed over a 9-month period to provide a temporary facility for container handling operations for a period of up to 3 years. The temporary securingworks were required to secure the container cranes, maintain support to the wharf structure, and ensure the reclamation behind the wharf had sufficient strength to support lateral loads imposed by the restraining system. This was to enable container operations to recommence and to maintain business continuity, pending action on replacement or reinstatement of the container wharf. This paper outlines the development of the design of the temporary works to secure and return to operations a 125- m working length of wharf and reclamation.