Sustainable port infrastructure: The need for a proactive approach to port rehabilitation
June 04, 2026
Rising seas and extreme weather are putting ports at risk. Proactive port rehabilitation keeps ports safe, open, and ready for the future.
Ports are critical infrastructure. They support national security, the economy, and jobs. Most ports are open 24/7. They are always on, keeping goods moving and people connected.
In Australia, ports handle around 31,000 vessels each year. According to Ports Australia, they support 694,000 jobs and generate $650 billion in trade. The story is similar in New Zealand and across the Pacific.
Yet, port infrastructure is under pressure. Ports are on the frontline of rising sea levels, extreme weather, and growing trade demands. When a port closes without warning—perhaps due to a storm, asset failure, or pandemic—disruption spreads fast. The economy slows. Jobs disappear. And communities are cut off.
In the face of those challenges, what do we do? First, we must prioritise sustainable port rehabilitation. Ports must stay open for the global and local economies that depend on them—and remain safe for the travellers and workers that use them each day.
Here, we will explore why port rehabilitation is so critical. We will also share how new technologies are changing the way ports are assessed and maintained, and how staged approaches allow upgrades to happen without shutting ports down.
Aerial shot of the Port of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. A rehabilitation project used detailed condition assessments and targeted upgrades, which allowed the wharf to continue operating while works were carried out.
Sustainable port infrastructure: The need for proactive port rehabilitation
You don’t build a new port every day. Beyond the cost, suitable locations are limited. In most developed regions, existing ports are already in the best positions. While the structures themselves may age, the value of the location does not.
But many of these assets were built more than 40 years ago, often with a design life of around 50 years. Even with a good maintenance program, time will lead to deterioration. But shutting down or replacing these critical assets isn’t practical. In addition to being expensive, building new port infrastructure from scratch can disrupt active transport networks, require complex staging, and introduce environmental and construction impacts. Emissions can also rise as demolition and rebuilding release large amounts of carbon.
Then there’s compliance. Ports must meet evolving environmental and legal requirements. This includes alignment with frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The International Maritime Organisation has also introduced the Net-Zero Framework. It is due to start in 2027 and could reshape how ports are designed, managed, and operated.
With these pressures in play, ports need to get more from the assets they already have. Extending the life of existing infrastructure is often more cost-effective, less disruptive, and more sustainable than starting from scratch. Proactive port rehabilitation helps:
- Extend the life of assets
- Support compliance
- Manage growing demand
And it does it without the disruption of building new.
For example, Port Kembla offers a clear example of what proactive port rehabilitation can look like.
Constructed in the 1980s, the structure was built with blast-furnace slag, a material that performed like concrete and was considered a good solution at the time. But over time, exposure to seawater has created acidic conditions that are now corroding the buried steel piles that support the structure.
And don’t forget: Most of the port infrastructure is underwater.
Our team is supporting the port operator with designs that enable safe access and targeted repairs. It will help extend the life of the structure while keeping operations running. Delivering this required detailed environmental assessment, coordination with all interested parties, and careful planning. The result will allow for increased capacity within an existing, operating port.
Delaying port rehabilitation only makes things worse. Deterioration is rarely linear. Once damage begins, it can speed up quickly. Within a short time, minor cracking or corrosion can turn into structural failure. Waiting often turns a manageable repair into a major intervention.
Fortunately, there are new technologies that can support a more effective port rehabilitation.
Maritime engineering: How emerging port infrastructure technologies are changing port rehabilitation
Understanding the condition of its assets is often the first challenge of port rehabilitation. Many ports across Australasia and the Pacific are more than 60 years old. Records are often incomplete. This is especially true for assets built under earlier administrations. In some cases, original drawings no longer exist. This increases uncertainty and risk.
And don’t forget: Most of the port infrastructure is underwater.
Traditionally, specialised divers have been used to inspect the infrastructure below the surface, but this is costly and, in some cases, dangerous. In remote areas, like the Pacific Islands, it can be difficult to get divers. And this just adds to the project costs. Even when we get divers down there, their ability to conduct much more than a visual inspection is limited to conducting measurements and minor investigations, such as scraping away marine growth. Some structures might have hundreds of piles, each one needing to be individually inspected.
New technologies and tools are helping to assess port infrastructure and extend its life. Laser scanning, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and drones each play a role. Together, they build a clearer picture of the conditions at ports today.
ROVs inspect underwater structures, reducing the need for extensive or extended diving operations. Drones, of course, capture above-water data. Laser scanning adds detailed 3D data, supporting accurate digital models. These tools help teams understand how structures were built and support better port rehabilitation planning. They also help identify early signs of damage. Divers can then be deployed in a targeted way to carry out detailed inspections and data collection, greatly reducing the cost and risk of traditional approaches.
Queens Wharf in Fiji. One key part of the rehabilitation project is using new materials on the project, including carbon fiber reinforced polymer.
Better data is changing how ports plan renewal. Drone scans and 3D models create digital copies of assets. These models help teams test options before work begins. Over time, they support smarter, long-term planning of port rehabilitation projects.
New materials are also extending the life of port assets. On the Queen’s Wharf project for Fiji Ports Corporation Limited, carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strengthening was used to rehabilitate the failing concrete beams. Unlike steel, CFRP can resist corrosion in marine environments. The project also used electrochemical chloride extraction to remove chlorides from concrete. This slows corrosion and extends structural life.
At Melbourne’s South Wharf, we used a similar approach to extend the asset life. Detailed condition assessments and targeted upgrades allowed the wharf to continue operating while works were carried out to extend its service life by 25 years.
Other changes are also helping to reshape maritime engineering. These include electrification, renewable power, artificial intelligence, and digital engineering. They are playing a key role in regular port maintenance.
Staging port rehabilitation: It’s how to keep ports open
Ports cannot shut down for upgrades. Too many people—and entire economies—depend on them.
COVID-19 showed what happens when ports close. Supply chains stalled. Communities felt the impact within weeks. That’s because ports are not isolated assets. When they stop, everything else is affected.
So, on busy ports, scheduling maintenance can become a feat of engineering in itself. Designers, contractors, operators, and regulators must coordinate closely.
A staged approach works best for most port-rehabilitation projects. Incremental upgrades allow ports to progressively improve environmental outcomes. And with that, they can avoid the environmental cost of one-off replacement that causes habitat destruction. For example, we can carefully monitor marine life to see how it’s interacting with port structures. This can include integrating measures to protect endangered species, such as habitat monitoring, relocation, or installation of alternative habitat. A good example: White’s Seahorse Hotels.
Hotels for the White’s seahorse are an example of projects that protect the marine environment.
Staging can take longer, but it lowers risk and overall cost. Modular designs also allow infrastructure to adapt to changing vessel sizes, climate change, cargo types, and energy systems.
Queens Wharf in Fiji is an example of staging rehabilitation projects to limit disruption. Queens Wharf is one of only two import and export wharves in Fiji. It serves the city of Nadi—which is increasingly popular as a long-haul transit hub between Australasia and the Americas. A critical port can’t shut down for any period of time.
Careful staging limited potential danger. Without that staging, all the work would take place in an active port with 40-tonne reach stackers carrying 30-tonne loads over a deteriorating concrete structure. It was critical to have:
- Clear exclusion zones
- Defined work boundaries
- Coordinated traffic management
These measures were developed in close collaboration with the port operator, contractors, and other interested parties to support safe, efficient staging.
Early contractor involvement also helps identify and manage risks early. By working together from the start, teams can plan more effectively—making staging safer and more efficient.
Why investment is shifting to port rehabilitation
When we delay port rehabilitation, the costs only go up. And it often results in urgent repairs and wider disruption. In a more uncertain operating environment, ports need to shift from reactive maintenance to whole‑of‑life management. What we’re seeing is investment more often focused on extending the life and performance of existing port assets. With that comes more structural health monitoring, predictive maintenance, and risk‑based prioritisation.
Shipping containers line Queen’s Wharf in Fiji.
In many cases, this approach is more practical and cost-efficient than building new. For many port authorities, it’s also the most realistic option. The cost of replacement is high—and the disruption too significant.
When we rehabilitate a port, we protect trade, jobs, and essential services. It supports legal compliance and reduces risk by addressing deterioration early.
Ports are critical infrastructure with no tolerance for failure. Sustained performance depends on strong asset management.
Proactive intervention is essential—well before capacity or structural limits are reached. This helps ports remain resilient and continue to support the economies and communities that depend on them.