Some port facilities at the Port of Hualien were damaged in the strong earthquake of April 3, 2024. Multiple outer harbor wharves experienced ground heave or subsidence, with elevation differences of up to 70 centimeters. To ensure uninterrupted port operations and protect personnel safety, the Hualien Branch immediately invested nearly NT$500 million in wharf repair works and concurrently conducted underwater surveys, unexpectedly discovering that the port area harbors a rich underwater ecology.

In the course of the works, the engineering team found more than fifty coral species and diverse fish forming an ecologically valuable underwater habitat within the harbor. This underwater world not only demonstrates nature's resilience but also shows that the port area still holds biodiversity potential, prompting the Hualien Branch to incorporate "ecological conservation" as an important consideration in post-disaster reconstruction works.

To reduce the project's impact on the marine environment, the engineering team adjusted construction methods, adopting a technique of connecting shore-protection armor units with micropiles to shorten underwater working time and reduce seabed disturbance. Avoidance measures were also taken during construction to prevent damage to existing coral and biological habitats, and supplementary surveys were conducted after completion to confirm that marine habitats were unaffected.

Drawing on this experience of integrating ecological conservation into post-disaster reconstruction by the Hualien Branch, it is hoped that the approach can serve as a reference for future port-area engineering planning and construction management, and that by embedding sustainability thinking into port operations and public works, a long-term foundation for sustainable harbor development can be established.