[ST. JOHN'S, NL] – The St. John's Port Authority is moving ahead with repair work on two piers at the Southside of the harbour, an area where fishing boats often tie up.
A call for bids has been issued for companies interested in completing the improvements to Pier 20 and Pier 21. Tender information is available through the port authority office.
Work on the two piers is expected to cause a crunch on available space on that side of the harbour — at least for the duration of the work — president and CEO of the St. John's Port Authority, Sean Hanrahan, told The Telegram Monday.
"This is just a standard repair, work that has to be done, usually about every 10 years," he says. "It's a replacement of a timber deck and wheelguard and the joists that go underneath."
The "wheelguard" is at the front of the dock, where boats might butt up against the wharf.
The timber deck behind it wears down enough to warrant replacement about once a decade, Hanrahan explains.
"It's going to be about a three-month job and probably start in September and finish up by the end of November," he says.
"There will be some limited access for sure. But that's for obvious health and safety and construction reasons," Hanrahan says.
The St. John's Port Authority will be covering the cost of the work — to be determined following responses to the current tender.
"That's one of our mandates, that we have to develop and maintain all piers and wharfing structures in the port," he says.
Income to the port from all users allows the authority to see to the upkeep.
"We've got the oil industry, we've got the cargo industry through Oceanex, we've got the fishing industry and the cruiseship industry as well.
"If we look at it in its totality and the revenues from the total revenue stream of birthage and wharfage and other charges and rental charges go towards the greater good, and we make repairs if we have to make a repair."
