Lyttelton Port Company has undertaken an upgrade, installing new systems to prevent falls from height, such as safety lines and compliant stairs, and minimising the impact on the heritage asset by using ground anchors to support safety systems.

Over ten weeks, 215 ground anchors were installed to support 1.2km of fall protection line, 16 chute bridges, and a head stair. LPC will also install two caisson stairs in the next couple of months.

Hannah Fyffe, Senior Project Manager, said the project was complex, and the project team worked through various technical and heritage considerations to deliver a successful outcome.

“It’s taken quite a few years to get to this point,” Hannah said.

“I’m full of admiration for the lads who, for days on end, braved scrawling southerlies and exposure to the elements.”

The dry dock is a Category 1 historic site, and the upgrade project ensured that the structure’s historic character had minimal interference.

Hannah praised the care everyone took while working on the site.

“Their respect for heritage fabric and Victorian engineering was always evident, constantly tweaking and improving ways to protect the original concrete from damage during the installation process while making sure all the ground anchors were in precisely the right locations,” she said.