Interislander – Kaitaki Linkspan
1The interisland ferries are an important part of New Zealand’s transport network, connecting the North and South Islands. The ferry Kaitaki (meaning ‘Challenger’) is significantly longer and wider than the other interisland ferries in the schedule, requiring a new roll-on/roll-off berthing facility to be designed and constructed at Dock Wharf in Wellington – all at short notice.
2Our engineering design team developed an innovative two lane steel raising link span, supported on steel tube piles to allow vehicles to drive on to the ship. The link span is raised and lowered using hydraulics and also incorporates recycled steel beams from the ‘Top Cat’ fast ferry berth – a great use of existing materials to minimise environmental impact and project cost.
3As part of the this project, we also assessed the Dock Wharf for berthing and mooring loads, and designed strengthening measures and modifications to accommodate the increased loads and new fender system. In addition, we also designed and detailed the steel structure for the passenger access walkways and tower, ensuring robust, functional access points for ferry passengers.
