No_2_November_and_December__1948 — Page 17

THE HONG KONG AND FAR EAST BUILDER

NEW WHARE AT WEST POINT

HONGKONG

Akt

XOWL.COM

WHARE AND

GOOOWN

COMFAKT

LIMITED

CONNAUGHT

ROAD

West

HONGKONG & KOWLOON WHARF & GODOWN CO. LT WEST POINT WHARF & GODOWNS.

1948.

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15

From the time of the inception of the Company in 1886, until the outbreak of hostilities in 1941, the Hong Kong & Kowloon Wharf & Godown Co., Ltd. maintained a Wharf opposite their West Point Godowns for the berthing of Coastal vessels. This Wharf, constructed of steel and Timber, was principally used by the vessels of the Indo- China Steam Navigation Company; in fact, so common was the sight of the "Indo-China" red funnel alongside that the Wharf was generally known throughout the Colony as "Jardine's Wharf".

On the re-occupation of the Colony in 1945, it was found that, as a result of neglect and lack of upkeep main- tenance during the Japanese occupation, the Wharf had deteriorated to such an extent as to be unsafe for the berth- ing of vessels; it was therefore completely demolished and a new Wharf of modern reinforced concrete and steei construction, with improved passenger facilities, construct- ed. Some delay in completion was experienced, owing to difficulty in obtaining roofing materials, etc; the first cargo vessel, the s.s. "Empire Park," berthed at the Wharf on April 30th, 1948, and on October 24th the Wharf was taken into full operation, for passengers and cargo, with the arrival of the 8.8. "Wing Sang."

The reinstatement of this old established facility for the coastal trade marks another step forward in the re- habilitation of the Port, and will undoubtedly prove of great benefit when conditions in China permit a resumption of the trade at its pre-war level.

The new Wharf is 356′ 0′′ long, 28′0′′ wide, with its seaward face 72′ 6′′ from the Praya, in 22′-23′ of water. The reinforced concrete deck is supported by steel piles, and has no bracing, incorporating instead a novel principle of using the steel piles not only to support the weight of the Wharf but to act also as vertical springs to absorb the shock of a ship berthing alongside. The design allows for a maximum of 6 inches deflection at deck level, and a gap of this amount is provided at the Praya. The deck does not in fact touch the Praya at all.

Deep girders were arranged to provide rigid support to the top of the piles to increase their resistance to the impact of the ships.

The resulting appearance gives very clean lines, and will greatly facilitate maintenance of the piles.

To carry through the modern lines, the two roofs over the bridge sections joining the Wharf to the Praya are car- ried on rigid frame bents of welded construction, and covered with Robertson Protected Metal roofing. Suitable guards and shelters are provided to protect passengers and to prevent unauthorized access to the Wharf. Small houses, on the bridges, accommodate watchmen, a small bo'suns' stores, and a lavatory.

The lighting of the Wharf is also modern, utilising the latest type mercury vapour lamps and fittings; it was designed to provide not less than one foot-candle on the Wharf main section, with a definite cut off 25 feet above deck level so that no direct light can reach the bridge of a ship berthing at any stage of the tide.

The steel piles were salvaged from the old No. 4 Wharf of the Godown Company, which is also being rebuilt.

Only the best and most serviceable piles were used, and the piles were driven upside-down, i.e. the corroded ends, previously at the top in No. 4 Wharf, are now at the bot- tom, so that the sound ends, previously buried deep in the harbour bottom, and thus not corroded, are now at the top. 123 piles in all were driven, of an average length of 60 feet.

Steel reinforcement is of Isteg bars, for which a higher stress in design was permitted by the Building Authority, and the concrete was all vibrated with electric and petrol- driven vibrators. The formwork for the girders was of timber, but steel shuttering was used for the slab panels. The Bollards are also of concrete, precast in steel moulds, and grouted into position.

Yacal timber fenders and rubbing pieces are fitted to seaward face of the Wharf.

The Wharf was designed by Mr. S. E. Faber, M.I.C.E., and the general Contractor was Messrs. Wa Hing Construc- tion Co. The electric lighting was supplied and installed by the British General Electric Company, Ltd.