Sparrows put in charge of revamping ONGC cranes

Sparrows Group, a provider of specialist equipment and integrated engineering services to the energy industry, has secured a multi-million pound contract with India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for the refurbishment of 21 cranes.

The project, which will extend the life of the cranes for a further 15 to 20 years, will see the company refurbish, repair, upgrade or replace all components and machinery, Sparrows said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the company, to reduce time and cost, refurbishment of each crane is being undertaken on-site, with any major boom works being carried out at Sparrows’ workshop facility in Mumbai.

The contract will utilize all of Sparrows in-house engineering disciplines including its structural, mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, automation and control, and reliability teams.

Stewart Mitchell, chief executive officer of Sparrows Group commented: “As the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for over 100 of the cranes in ONGC’s fleet we look forward to starting this work which will ensure safety and reliability for a number of years to come.

“Cranes are a critical piece of equipment to any operation and ONGC’s decision to start this refurbishment program is testament to their ongoing commitment to safety and performance.

“India continues to be an area of growth for Sparrows and we have established a good track record in the region.”

All spare parts required for the project, including any new booms, will be manufactured at Sparrows dedicated facility in Houston, US. Once final testing has taken place each crane will be recertified to the relevant industry standards.

Work is due to start in April 2018 with completion expected by March 2020.