The project involved designing and constructing two new lead tower structures in Botany Bay, Sydney, to replace the existing towers that had reached the end of their design life. The new towers incorporated advanced lead light technology, significantly enhancing navigation safety in the channel. Additionally, the project aimed to provide safer access to the towers for maintenance purposes.

Given the sensitivity of the lead lights, the project faced unique challenges, including stringent requirements for the allowable rotation of the leadlight (0.05 degrees at the level of light with a wind speed of 35 knots), a water depth of 15 meters, a light height of 18 meters above sea level, and the geotechnical complexity of the site with shallow rock formations. These factors made the tower design particularly challenging. AWM’s design also considered the cyclic motion of wave loading, necessitating a fatigue analysis of the tower.

In a successful partnership, AW Maritime, SMC Marine and Port Authority of New South Wales delivered the project with both towers installed in May 2024.