St. John's Port Authority announces $12.8M project to expand Pier 17 West

The St. John's Port Authority has announced an expansion of Pier 17 West that will include the construction of a new finger pier onthe harbour.

Plans for the new pier were announced on Wednesday as part of a $12.8-million expansion project, with$6.4 million of that funding provided by the federal government.

The new finger pier is a "deck structure" that will provide two new berths for offshore supply and support vessels.

In a release, St. John's Port Authority president Sean Hanrahansaid the additional funding will help the city meet the needs of what's expected to be a growing offshore energy sector.

"We are looking forward to the increased capacity that Pier 17 West will allow us to provide port users," he said.

Construction on the project will begin in June and is expected to be completed by August of 2018.