Ulee Lheue Port Reconstruction

Background

Ulee Lheue Port was completely destroyed by the tsunami of 26 December 2004. The Port was a major transport hub that provided passenger ferry services for up to 600 passengers per day, including small traders and poor families. It ferried 15 tonnes of goods per day and provided a large cargo ferry service (500 tonnes) to Medan and the West coast. The nearest port is now a 30 minute drive away and port access for reconstruction materials has become a critical issue, particularly with the increasing deterioration of the main roads system. The Port also moored the floating power station that was left stranded some kilometres inland. Prior to the tsunami the harbour was protected by long breakwaters on the North and South sides. On land there was a large three story concrete terminal building that housed the local port authority and other users.

In June 2005, in response to urgent request for assistance in port rehabilitation, AusAID gave A$2.6 million of assistance to the UNDP to undertake Stage 1 of the port reconstruction. Stage 1 saw the port re-opened but much work remained. AusAID will provide the A$8 million required to fund Stage 2 of the port reconstruction which will see the complete rehabilitation of the port and port facilities.

Description

The objective of this activity is to reconstruct the Ulee Lheue Port and its facilities to full operational capacity.

Activities will include:

• Rebuilding a permanent terminal building that houses the local port authority and other associated users. This will include electricity supply and water supply and sanitation.
• Improving roads and access to the port.
• Strengthening rock revetments to a number of faces that will protect the road and Port, and will also give access to fishermen to the new fish market.
• Rehabilitation of the ferry berth and passenger berth.
• Construction of navigation aids.
• Refurbishment of the power station berth.
• Restoring of the breakwaters.
• Improving the general cargo berth.

Achievements/outcomes to date

As a result of Australia's contribution to the rehabilitation of the Ulee Lheue Port, it was operational less than a year after being completely destroyed. Following major improvements to the 1.4 km breakwater and the construction of a new jetty and temporary ferry terminal, the port now sees over 900 people a day transit the terminal, with daily traffic increasing by over 50 percent since 2005. Vital reconstruction materials are now more easily moving in and out of Banda Aceh thanks to the reopening of the cargo port and Ulee Lheue. Reconstruction of the permanent ferry terminal will commence in early 2007.

This page was last updated on 25 January 2007

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