Australia: BigLift Plays Key Role in Cape Lambert Port Expansion Project

BigLift Plays Key Role in Cape Lambert Port Expansion Project

BigLift Shipping has played an important role in the transportation and installation of wharf modules for Rio Tinto’s Cape Lambert Port Expansion Project over the recent period. Namely, the heavy-lift company’s newbuilding Happy Sky is already on her second round of transporting large modules as part of the Port B, Phase B project in Cape Lambert.

BigLift’s  Happy D class vessels (2 x 400mt Cranes) carried the majority of Dolphins, the Happy Buccaneer (2 x 700mt Cranes) carried the Phase A wharf modules, and the Happy Sky (2 x 900mt Cranes) is in the process of carrying the wharf modules for Phase B.The phase B wharf modules were the first cargo carried by the newly commissioned Happy Sky.

Happy Sky has been chartered out to complete two more shippings for the project as part of a four consecutive shipments deal. The Cape Lambert Port B facility began exporting its first Iron ore in August this year, and construction is continuing as the project moves on to Phase B.

Whilst we enjoyed the relative peace and quiet of construction of the Phase A berths, it becomes a more challenging operation for all concerned when we have to cope with 2 “live” operating berths immediately astern of the phase B berths,BigLift said in a release.

As a result of the Phase A berths becoming operational, there is the added complexity of large Cape Size bulk carriers coming and going as well as an active shiploader and conveyor system.

At the completion of its scope on the Port B project, scheduled for the end of this year, BigLift will have carried 34 dolphins, and 20 wharf modules over 15 separate shipments.

BigLift has additionally been involved in carrying the port area, stackers, reclaimers, and shiploaders for this project involving another 6 complete shipments. This project would not have been the success it is without the superb cooperation of Rio Tinto, Sinclair Knight Merz, John Holland and the BigLift Engineering and Operational teams.

“We have faced a number of challenges due to the extreme weights and sizes of the modules involved and the weather conditions at the port, but with the typical Australian “ Can Do” attitude all have been solved in a safe, expedient manner. When completed this will be BigLift’s 16th completed modularized berth construction for the mining industry in Western Australia, and we are proud to have helped contribute to the Western Australian economy in such a significant way,” the release further added.

The company commenced their involvement in shipping wharf decks for Rio Tinto in 2005 with the Parker Point Expansion project (2 berths), followed with the Cape Lambert 80mtpa expansion (2 berths) and culminating in Cape Lambert Port B Phase A (2 berths) and Phase B (2 Berths).

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BigLift, October 16, 2013