Arnold’s Cove Wharf Rehabilitation

Abstract

The Town of Arnold’s Cove, NL is a medium sized community located in Placentia Bay, on the Isthmus of Avalon, in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Bull Arm Construction site, the North Atlantic Refining Ltd. oil refinery and the Newfoundland Transshipment Terminal are all in close proximity to Arnold’s Cove, and as a result the need for a well maintained port is evident. The town’s harbour and associated structures are used for a wide range of functions including shipping, fishing, tourism, and personal/recreation. These varying uses lead to a wide range of ships using the harbour, and reiterate the need for regular maintenance, repair, and upgrades. In June of 2009, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWSGC) hired a consultant to perform a conditional inspection of the existing wharf structures within the harbour, in order to determine the overall condition of the structures, both above and below water. If necessary, the consultant was also tasked with proposing repair/reconstruction recommendations. The inspection revealed that many of the wharf structures were in a severely damaged and deteriorated condition and required substantial repairs in order to be brought back to a safe working condition. The following paper will outline the steps taken to repair/replace the Arnold’s Cove harbour structures, and rehabilitate the harbour back to a working condition.