Tonga unveils modern resilient port

Delivered in partnership with the Tongan Government, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ports Authority, and funded by the Asian Development Bank and the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific, the US$70 million project marks one of the largest infrastructure investments in Tonga’s history.

The upgrade of Queen Sālote International Wharf, which handles 95% of the nation’s imported goods, has transformed the ageing facility into a modern gateway capable of handling larger vessels and increased cargo volumes.

“Every shipment of food, medicine, and goods passes through this port,” said David Perbey, business development director for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific at Haskoning.

“By combining innovation, collaboration and local partnership, we’re helping Tonga secure its maritime future and strengthen its connection to the world.”

The project placed strong emphasis on community involvement and safety. “Eighty per cent of the workforce was from the local community and we achieved an eleven per cent female employment rate,” said Fraser Wyllie, McConnell Dowell’s managing director for New Zealand and the Pacific.

“Just this month we passed one million work hours without a single Lost Time Injury.”

Environmental sustainability was another key focus, with 85% of waste diverted from landfill, 126 tonnes of steel recycled and 2,160 tonnes of concrete reused for erosion protection.

The upgraded wharf has more than doubled Tonga’s port efficiency, accommodating vessels up to 220 metres long and handling up to 45,000 teu annually – a new benchmark for climate-resilient infrastructure in the Pacific.