The USD$70 million project represents one of the largest infrastructure investments in Tonga’s history.
McConnell Dowell and consulting engineering company Haskoning and construction company have successfully completed a landmark maritime infrastructure upgrade in the Kingdom of Tonga, transforming the nation’s only international port into a modern, climate-resilient facility that secures the country’s economic and social lifeline.
Delivered in partnership with the Tongan government, Ministry of Infrastructure, and the Ports Authority, the project was funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP). The USD$70 million project represents one of the largest infrastructure investments in Tonga’s history.
The Queen Sālote International Wharf is the country’s principal gateway for 95 per cent of all imported goods, and has withstood decades of degradation with limited maintenance. Working closely with the Government of Tonga, the ADB, and local stakeholders, Haskoning developed a comprehensive rehabilitation plan to protect the port.
“Every shipment of food, medicine, and goods passes through this port. By combining innovation, collaboration, and local partnership, we’re helping Tonga secure its maritime future and strengthen its connection to the world. Despite the challenges of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Eruption, Cyclone Tino and Harold, a global pandemic and supply chain disruptions, the project was completed on time and within budget,” said David Perbey, Business Development Director Australia, New Zealand and Pacific at Haskoning.
The project has not only rebuilt but also extended key sections of the Queen Sālote International Wharf, with the new design allowing for larger vessels, increased cargo throughput, and enhanced safety.
“People were central to the success of the project; 80% of the workforce was from the local community. We were also pleased to be able to achieve an 11% female employment rate. Just this month, we passed 1,000,000 work hours without a single Lost Time Injury. The team completed more than 3,000 hours of training, developing new skills and earning qualifications, which provide long-term benefits for Tonga,” said Fraser Wyllie, McConnell Dowell’s Managing Director, New Zealand and the Pacific.
“Delivering world-class infrastructure with the support of the local community has been incredibly rewarding. McConnell Dowell’s purpose is to provide a better life for people, and this project is a stellar example of what can be achieved when we work together,” said Wyllie.
The environmental outcomes achieved were equally significant, diverting 85% of waste from landfill, and recycling 126 tonnes of steel and 11 metric tonnes of waste oil. The project also reused 2,160 tonnes of concrete, crushing and putting it into rock bags to create the erosion protection revetment.
The wharf upgrade has more than doubled the port’s operational efficiency, allowing vessels up to 220 metres in length and increasing capacity to 45,000 TEU containers annually. It now serves as a model for climate-resilient infrastructure delivery across the Pacific, demonstrating how global expertise and local knowledge can combine to enhance regional sustainability.
Haskoning and McConnell Dowell continue to work with Pacific governments and development agencies to design and deliver infrastructure that supports prosperity and resilience across climate-vulnerable island nations.
Below: His Majesty King Tupou VI of Tonga and Fraser Wyllie, McConnell Dowell General Manager New Zealand and the Pacific, at the official opening ceremony on 31 October.
Below: The first two ships docking at the newly opened Queen Sālote International Wharf.
