Port of Keelung, TIPC’s comprehensive review of current infrastructure and facilities at Suao Port was conducted with the goal of optimizing that port’s overall infrastructure and potential for tourism / ferry traffic growth. Based on the findings, a multi-year repair and retrofitting program was approved to secure the structural safety and utility of Suao port wharves for decades to come. Related work has finished on Wharf Nos. 6, 7, 9, and 10~12, with work ongoing at Wharf No. 13. Once completed, the renovated Wharf No. 13 will operate as a dual-purpose wharf with facilities for both ferry passenger and general cargo handling.

The Wharf No. 13 renovation project centers on: 1) removal and replacement of the current wharf platform; 2) removal and replacement of the platform support structure and reinforcement of the existing pile foundation system; and 3) reinforcement of the overall wharf structure to accommodate a newly installed mooring system and heavy cargo and other handling needs.

In detail, this project includes the removal of 108 existing platform sections, installation of an additional 35 sets of high-tension tie cables, and removal and replacement of two damaged piles. The replacement sections for the wharf platform are made of precast concrete. Moreover, after removal of the original platform sections, F130T tie cables anchored to Class-B RC beams are being thread through holes drilled into the existing reinforced-concrete (RC) foundation and tightened fully before installing the new precast concrete sections onto the platform surface. With regard to the two damaged piles, after completely removing the foundation structure above each, the old piles were removed, newly fabricated steel-pipe piles were installed, and a newly poured foundation will be tightly secured to surrounding structural elements. The entire retrofit of Suao Port Wharf No. 13 is scheduled for completion by the end of October this year (2025).

Overall, project work is being implemented under eco-friendly principles centered on minimizing resource usage and maximizing materials recycling/reuse. Cement rubble from the original wharf platform and recovered stone and gravel are being crushed, screened and prioritized in renovation/repair material needs. Furthermore, one-ton tetrapods removed while installing the new piles will be reinstalled in place. Finally, waste soil, stone and excavated graded aggregates are being used directly in the 4th harbor channel reclamation zone. In line with government policies promoting the development of circular economies, the reuse and repurposing of materials in Suao Port’s wharf renovation work is effectively shortening the timeline for land reclamation work at the port, reducing the impacts of project work on the environment, and moving the entire TIPC organization forward in actualizing ESG values in its operations and achieving critical sustainable development goals.