Queen Salote stayed open through a two-stage rebuild

What changed

AIFFP's 5 November 2025 release carries the Ports Authority chief executive's statement that all marine and civil works were complete and operational, the two-stage delivery sequence, Wharf 1 handover, remaining-wharf and Wharf 2 extension scope, commissioned service systems and the USD 83.5 million total funding line. ADB supplies the USD 43.05 million main civil award, procurement method, earlier 95% and 97% progress snapshot, four-dolphin, seawall, revetment, navigation-marker and yard details. McConnell Dowell supplies the live-port construction sequence and exact-site photographs. The brief keeps the civil contract, contractor project description and total programme funding as separate values and does not infer sustained operating performance from the opening ceremony.

Why it matters

Queen Salote could not simply close for reconstruction: it is Tonga's only international port. The contractor split marine and landside work between the eastern and western halves of the site so cargo vessels could keep using the gateway while piles, wharves, dolphins, pavement and utilities were replaced. That staging problem is as important as the finished structures for other small-island ports with no spare berth system.