Hall Contracting was contracted recently by the Government of Tokelau to upgrade reef passages and construct four new wharves in the remote island nation of Tokelau.
The works – which will see Tokelauan locals benefit from safer and more reliable ship-to-shore operations – are expected to begin this month and conclude in November 2019.
Hall Contracting CEO, Cameron Hall, said that one of the company’s tugs and a 52-foot barge had set sail from Brisbane recently, with the journey to Tokelau’s Atufu atoll expected to take around four weeks.
“ Based in the southern Pacific Ocean, Tokelau is very isolated and only accessible by sea, with its nearest neighbor, Samoa, approximately 500km away ,” Mr Hall said.
“ With this in mind, proficiency in planning and logistics has been imperative, as any overlooked parts or pieces of equipment will spend weeks in transit and cannot be flown onto the various atolls.
“Our team has had to consider every conceivable scenario, and I think it’s fair to say we have more spare parts on board our barge for the three excavators and loader being used than Volvo currently has housed in Australia.
“The existing channels afford little protection from swell and are incredibly exposed, so widening and deepening the reef passages will enable ship-to-shore vessels, smaller fishing boats and inter-island vessels to navigate the area more easily and safely.
“The works will provide increased shelter from wave action and have been designed to minimize the need for regular maintenance.
“Our crew will also upgrade the existing wharf and ramp structures on the Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo atolls as part of our efforts in Tokelau.”
Mr Hall also added that a number of Pacific Islanders had been recruited to support the team of 13 Australian workers.
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