Australia: Jumbo Transports MOF Caissons for Gorgon Project

Jumbo’s engineers and the crew of HLV Jumbo Jubilee have successfully transported and discharged fourteen of the twenty-five MOF caissons for the Chevron-operated Gorgon Project on Barrow Island, Australia. So far the operation was performed as planned with respect to every detail: safety, environmental conservation, transportation, mooring and tidal discharging.

The contract for the transport and discharge of the MOF caissons was awarded to Jumbo by DB Schenker, on behalf of the Saipem Leighton Consortium. Jumbo’s in-house engineering knowledge and the diverse employability of the Jumbo Jubilee makes clear why Jumbo got the job. The heavy lift vessel has a unique deck lay out, enormous hold capacity and is allowed to sail with open hatches. This makes it possible to make optimum use of the capacity and transport seven MOF caissons at once while maintaining a minimum ship draught.

In four shipments the Jumbo Jubilee will transport the total of 25 caissons from Port Klang, Malaysia to Barrow Island, Australia. The caissons, weighing from 600t up to 700t (D: 12.5 and H: 16.8 meter), will be lifted from a barge and placed in the hold of the vessel for transport. At Barrow Island Jumbo will use anchor points and mooring lines to keep the vessel in position while discharging the caissons. The caissons form the base of the future Material Offloading Facility.

Barrow Island is a ‘Class A Nature Reserve’. Jumbo developed and implemented a strict quarantine compliance plan, including an extensive familiarization and environmental training program. The captain and crew of the Jumbo Jubilee received a certificate of appreciation for their vigilance in ensuring the ongoing compliance of the vessel with Gorgon Quarantine requirements.

The Jumbo Jubilee will make two more voyages from Port Klang to Barrow Island transporting the MOF caissons. By performing on schedule, Jumbo supports the project meeting its critical path requirements in the development of the Barrow Island Heavy Lift Facility. Demobilization of the Jumbo Jubilee is planned in July 2012.

The Gorgon Project is one of the world’s largest natural gas projects and the largest single-resource project in Australia’s history. It is operated by Chevron and is a joint venture of the Australian subsidiaries of Chevron (approximately 47%), ExxonMobil (25%), Shell (25%), Osaka Gas (1.25%), Tokyo Gas (1%) and Chubu Electric Power (0.417%).

[mappress]
Subsea World News Staff, May 22, 2012; Image: Jumbo