13. CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME
Stage 1
13.1
13.2
13.3
13.4
13.5
13.6
13.7
13.8
A critical-path programme for Stage I comprising two berths and necessary back-up area is shown on Drawing 20. This allows 7 months from the time of a firm decision to go ahead for:-
(a) gazetting and authorising the reclamation under either the Public Reclamations and
Works Ordinance or the Foreshores & Sea Bed Ordinance,
(b) doing any design work still required,
(c) preparing contract documents and drawings, and
(d) carrying out tendering procedure.
On this basis, the first berth with two container cranes could be opened to shipping in 2+ years from the time of a firm decision to go ahead. It is estimated that the corresponding packing shed, offices etc. for this first phase as shown on Drawing 16 could also be constructed within this time.
The programme also shows that the second berth could be opened to shipping 3 years from receiving the go-ahead for Stage 1. This assumes that work on the second berth starts concurrently with that on the first berth. Although the second berth could be ready in 3 years, the portion of its back-up area behind the existing breakwater could not satisfactorily be brought into use until 6 months after that. This is because sand or paper drains would have to be provided to accelerate settlement of the reclamation and because time would be required to allow as much settlement as practicable to take place after completion of these drains and before surfacing. However, sufficient back-up area for container-marshalling and one packing shed could be brought into use at the same time as the berth.
Because of the time required for consolidation of the area behind the existing breakwaters, reclamation there should commence as early as possible and this is shown on the programme as starting at the same time as the main quaywall. The programme allows a consolidation period of 1 year after completion of the sand drains before construction of initial surfacing and the packing shed.
It has been assumed in programming that filling would come from the Mainland borrow areas at a total average rate of about 100,000 cu. yds. per month. Should this be exceeded, which is quite likely, the main effect would be to reduce the time required to bring the area behind the existing breakwater into use. The rest of Stage 1 is principally governed by the rate of quaywall construction.
It is not known accurately how long the delivery of the steel sheet piling would take but enquiries from local agents indicate that the flat-type steel sheet piling for the Type B quay structure, recommended for berth No. 2 and detailed on Drawing 19, could be ordered and delivered within five months as shown on the programme.
The time required for the ordering and delivery of 2 container cranes for each berth has been taken as 15 months. The time for the erection and commissioning of 2 cranes per berth has been estimated at 7 months. Using these times, 2 container cranes could be ready for use in the 21 years required for completion of Berth 1. Should however these times be exceeded, 2 cranes could not be ready for the opening of the first berth. It is significant that according to the programme most of the Phase 1 reclamation would be completed before the cranes would be delivered on site since a good-sized working area is needed for their erection. It is estimated that the erection and commissioning of one crane could be completed 3 months before the second.
It has been ascertained from local agents that straddle carriers and fork-lift trucks of a type suitable for the recommended method of operating the Terminal could be supplied within the time required to open each berth.
If Stage 2 were constructed following immediately on Stage 1, it would be possible to omit from the latter the rubble mound required to retain the fill on the north side of the proposed reclamation in front of the existing breakwater. For this to happen though, it
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