Skipped to content

Berthing Infrastructure Project
Overseas Passenger Terminal, Sydney

A major project by Port Authority of New South Wales to protect and support the wharf alongside Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal to ensure it continues providing a safe berth for ships. 

Port Authority of New South Wales ensures the safe navigation and berthing of commercial vessels in the working ports and harbours of NSW. In Sydney, Port Authority manages infrastructure and facilities at the Overseas Passenger Terminal and White Bay Cruise Terminal. At both terminals, Port Authority ensures ships navigate safely to and from berth, provides berthing infrastructure, and manages berth scheduling and security. 

Image: The Overseas Passenger Terminal located in Circular Quay in Sydney Harbour

Built in 1960, the OPT at Circular Quay is located in one of Australia’s busiest waterways. Over time, natural processes and vessel activity can cause changes to the features and depths of the seabed, shipping channels and berths. Port Authority monitors, maps and assesses these changes to ensure ships can navigate and berth safely in the ports of NSW. 

Following surveys by Port Authority’s hydrographic survey team that identified movement, scouring and accretion of the seabed around the OPT's wharf, Port Authority will begin a major project in January 2021 to protect and support the terminal’s wharf and ensure it continues providing a safe berth for ships.  

Project works 

Works will take place in two stages:

Stage 1: Completed in June 2021

Stage 1 of the project prevented the ongoing movement of sediment by installing sheet piles to create an underwater retaining wallalong the OPTssouthern embankment. The sheet piles were installed from the water by a barge alongside the terminal’s wharf.

Stage 2: (scheduled) 

Stage 2 of the project will remove accumulated seabed material around the OPT wharf to deepen the berth area and provide room for the installation of concrete mattresses along the wharf’s base to protect the seawall from erosion. More information about Stage 2 will be provided ahead of the works, currently scheduled to begin in July 2024. 

Review of Environmental Factors

The Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for the OPT Berthing Infrastructure Project is available HERE.

More information 

Updates will be added to this page as the project develops.

Contact Port Authority for more information or enquiries about the Berthing Infrastructure Project