Modifications to Dockyard’s two cruise ship wharfs, needed to enable them to accommodate new, larger cruise ships, could cost millions of dollars, according to one experienced professional.The new ships are scheduled to begin calling at Heritage Wharf in 2013, which will almost certainly need to be modified before the cruise ship season begins. King’s Wharf is projected to be modified prior to the 2014 season.But that figure and the work does not include repairs to structural damage to the North Arm sea wall that may have left it unsafe, according to individuals close to the project. One source said those who were aware of the problems remained silent because they were concerned the cruise business would be shut down for the season if they spoke out.The issues came to light when a Ministry of Public Works $148,750 consultancy contract to Mott MacDonald Ltd for the Dockyard wharfs was announced in the Official Gazette on November 28. The contract, which was awarded as the result of a tender, was dated September 11.The announcement of the contract stated: ‘The Ministry of Public Works Heritage Wharf and King’s Wharf Cruise Ship Docking Facility, Consultancy Contract - Heritage Wharf and King’s Wharf Royal Naval Dockyard’.”A Ministry of Public Works spokesman said last week: “Mott MacDonald Ltd has been commissioned to undertake a thorough structural assessment of both King’s Wharf and Heritage Wharf, Ireland Island in order to determine the docks’ capacities to accommodate the latest cruise ships in production by both the Norwegian Cruise Line and the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.“In accordance with provisions set out in its contract with the Government of Bermuda, Mott MacDonald Ltd will carry out investigation reports, full detailed structural assessment, (a) feasibility study for modifications and detailed design of the improvement works with respect to both Heritage and Kings Wharf.“The contracted price of $148,750 does not include provisional sums for detailed design, as the investigation and assessment works were required first in order to determine the extent of any design works required. Therefore, the final contract cost cannot be fully determined at this stage, although it is not expected to exceed $250,000.“It is to be noted that the works are all being undertaken in accordance with international standards and practices and in consultation with the cruise lines to ensure that their technical departments are fully satisfied with the assessment and design criteria.”The statement continued: “Since the design and construction of these two docks, the cruise industry has moved on with new ships in the pipeline: larger cruise ships are contracted to arrive in Bermuda in the spring 2013 and spring 2014. As a consequence, it may be necessary to modify the docks to accommodate revised passenger embarkation gantries and mooring line locations. Thus, an upgrade to the existing facilities may be required to satisfy changes in the cruise ship inventory which will increase passenger arrivals in Bermuda.”The Public Works spokesman also stated: “Subject to the outcome of the structural assessment, it is proposed that Heritage Wharf be modified if necessary during this closed season. Modifications will accommodate the new Breakaway class cruise ship this coming season and the new Sunshine Class in 2014. King’s Wharf, which will function as normal for the Voyager Class next season, will be modified during the next closed season to accommodate both the Breakaway and Sunshine class cruise ships.”Heritage Wharf was opened in 2010 ata cost of $60 million, after originally being budgeted at $35 million.However, one person familiar with the project said the changes would definitely need to be made: “The new ships will require changes to the docks, and the ballpark cost will be in the millions of dollars.”The cost could not be verified by other sources. Government has also stated that some $2 million worth of materials taken from a broken thruster wall which is being demolished would be used for improvements to the wharfs. that thruster wall was built at a cost of $4.1 million.The source also also said it was difficult to see the job beginning before mid-January, as the design had to be completed and then materials shipped into the island. He said the project could take up to four months, and it must be completed by April.A second person close to the developments in Dockyard expressed concern.“There were all kinds of issues with that project. A major one involved modifications to the inside of the north arm of Dockyard stuff of significance that never went for Planning approval.“To understand the implications of what they did, you need to know how the north arm was built in the first place. When the north arm of Dockyard was built, they did it by piling large boulders into the ocean starting at the shoreline and then continuing to the south creating a linear pile of rocks with sloping sides that essentially raised the seafloor to the surface or above. Then, on top of that, they built the dock structure that you see today emerging from the water.“When these boulders were placed, that created sloping sides, the slope of which reflects the stable situation it is called the ‘angle of repose’.“It is different for different materials. For instance, if you try to build a pile out of marbles on a table, the angle of repose would be flat they are smooth and round and won’t stack,” he explained. “But if you put a pile of dice on a table, the angle of repose would be much more steep-sided, not vertical, but sloping at the angle that is stable. We see this all around us daily; if a pile of sand is too steep, the particles will slide until it reaches a stable angle.“When Dockyard was originally in use they employed floating docks on the inside of this breakwater to allow ships to access the dock. This was necessary as the sloping sides of the submerged part of the seawall prevented ships from landing directly alongside the dock, because the water there was not deep enough. When the Heritage Wharf was built they also moved the marina across Dockyard to the Clock Tower side.“They did this to get the boating public away from the restricted area required for post 9/11-security for ships. But then they wanted to put the Marine and Ports vessels alongside the seawall and decided to dredge to accomplish that. But as you now know, you can’t do that dredging without destabilising this pile of rocks but they did do that.“The Government’s own engineers told them not to do it, and they cited a report from the Royal Corps of Engineers that also told them not to do it. I understand that there was a solution of some sort implemented that was used to stabilise this, but as none of this was even submitted to the Planning Department, what the kind of engineering solution it is, I don’t know.”The first source who is close to the project is aware of a second issue with the sea wall. “There is a hole on the north side, the Spanish Point side, where the cruise ships are docked,” he said. The hole was caused by the thruster engines of the cruise ship that is moored there, and it has been eroded to such an extent that when a cruise ship is using its thruster engines, it is possible to see silt emerging from the other side of the sea wall and into the Dockyard basin.“The seawall is being undermined,” he said. “It could collapse after time.” And now, wave action along is eroding it.”He said fixing it: “ . . . is not that big of a deal. It’s cheap to fix. But if it’s not fixed, it would be a bigger and bigger job and there are safety issues.“The biggest concern for cruise ships is the safety of their passengers,” and he said he felt that if the cruise lines were aware of the problems they would insist that they be rectified.Both sources said independently they did not believe the cruise lines were aware of the problems, and while one said it might be part of the remit, the other said fixing the sea wall was not in the construction plans.“Is it in the remit of Mott MacDonald to assess that issue? Judging from the Public Works statement and their fees I don’t think their remit extends to doing an assessment of that,” he said.“When this issue first came to light many of us were silent; if they really had destabilised the structure, then making this public may lead to shutting down the cruise business for that year. What might happen if the cruise ship operators understood the dock was not stable? Nobody wanted to be responsible for sharing that story. But now that the new dock is operational, a structural assessment is to be done, and the 2012 season is just over, it is a good time to clear the air.”There are heritage issues as well, he said.“Dockyard is also a Historic Preservation Area under the Planning Act, but despite this specific planning designation, no application has even been made. It is also a Marine Heritage Site under the Historic Wrecks Act, because of the numerous artifacts that have been found in the basin. Under that layer of protection they should have also got permission through the Wrecks Authority (to make these changes). But that didn’t happen either. No applications were made, no permissions were sought to do that at all.“So, when they dredged, they grabbed these stones and dropped them further into the Dockyard basin. I strongly believe they dropped them onto historic wrecks still lying in the mud.“It is believed there are a couple of historic convict hulks in there, but the most concerning thing about this is that they may have destabilised the whole structure. So if they have not properly remedied that issue, then it could be the original part of the dock will not stand up to scrutiny.A Government spokesman said there would be no response to the questions raised in this stories as the sources were anonymous.