UTC Overseas has handled many chall- enging moves of very large and heavy cargoes over the years, but rarely have they faced one like this: A 386 metric ton (426.6 T) gas dehydration unit, built near Singapore and destined for an east coast South American shipyard for addition to a rig/platform under construction.

UTC’s vessel charter experts began scouring listings of available ships and communicating with their owners about their upcoming availability and ability to safely transport the cargo. Specialized vessels demanded charter rates beyond the scope of the project. Other owners, with less sophisticated vessels, said the move was impossible due to the height and weight.

While weight was obviously a concern, the unit’s size, particularly its nearly 70-foot height, presented the biggest obstacle. At 15 x 8 x 21 meters L x W x H (49.2 x 26.25 x 68.9 feet) it could not be placed in the hold because it was taller than the hatch covers of most standard bulk cargo vessels. However, carried on the weather deck, it would obstruct the view from the ship’s bridge, a key reason why many owners and captains refused to offer.

The destination shipyard also presented challenges. Vessel draft could not exceed five meters, and the gantry crane to be used for discharge had a limited outreach to the vessel berth.

HANDLING A “TALL” ORDER

Global Logistics SolutionsPoint2point

...Read more

Because it was too tall to fit under the hatch covers, UTC Overseas devised a detailed fore-deck stowage and lashing plan to carry this 386 MT gas dehydration unit from Asia to east coast South America via South Africa.

MORE ON THIS PROJECT:

For additional photos see our Project Gallery at http://www.utcoverseas.com/news/PG-Tall-Order-March-2015.pdf

www.utcoverseas.comproject@utcoverseas.comTel.+1-713-869-9939Turnkey Project Services Worldwide

March 2015 Volume 4, Issue 3

Point2Point Newsletter 1

However, after nearly two months of careful engineering analysis, backup reviews by class society experts and an independent class surveyor, detailed discussions with owners and crew, and visits to the preferred South American offload port, a vessel was located and an approved stowage and transport plan was developed to carry the unit on deck. The solution was placing the unit on hatch one forward to assure clear bridge visibility for the crew during ocean transit. That placement also provided best access for the gantry crane offloading upon arrival.

Because of draft and navigation restrictions, a floating crane lifted the massive unit from the manufacturer’s pier and transported it to nearby Port Jurong. Careful and intense calculations were undertaken to assure the gear and slings used provided sufficient margins for safety and stability of the load during transit. Although the distance traveled was short, dealing with draft restrictions due to tidal changes stretched the move overnight. Upon arrival at Port Jurong the next morning, the unit was then carefully lowered onto the ship.

A platform of twelve container flat racks was created on the forward hatches to

spread the weight and avoid damage to the hatch covers. A detailed lashing plan, also reviewed by independent surveyors, was implemented to safely secure the load during transport. After a 40-day voyage via the tip of South Africa, with a bunkering stop in Durban, the dehydrator, wrapped in a huge tarpaulin provided by UTC and the vessel owners, arrived safely at its destination. Vessel arrival was timed to assure maximum tidal draft at the berth as originally planned by UTC experts. The forward positioning also enabled the gantry to safely access and offload the dehydrator to the yard for final mounting on the rig/platform.

Boye Hansen, UTC Director of Projects and part of the firm’s Global Chartering team, says the skills and experience of UTC global staff is critical to crafting a safe and cost-effective logistics plan for such projects.  “The analysis and approval of their plans for transport, loading, stowage and offloading, by independent surveyors and class societies, in close cooperation with the vessel owners, owners’ technical departments and crews of the vessels chartered, is a testament to the quality of their work.”

UTC HANDLES A “TALL” ORDER (continued)

Join UTC Overseas

March 23 – 25 Euro Cantech Barcelona, Spain http://www.euro-cantech.com/ April 14 – 16 GulfCan Dubai, U.A.E. http://www.gulfcanconference.com/

May 4 – 7 Offshore Technology Conference – OTC UK Pavilion, Booth # 2541-F Houston, TX http://2015.otcnet.org/

May 18 – 21 Europe Breakbulk Booth # 912 H4 Antwerp, Belgiumhttp://www.breakbulk.com/events/break-bulk-europe/breakbulk-europe-2015/

June 1 – 4 Cannex Booth #320 Guangzhou, China http://spgevents.com/cannex-fillex/can-nex-fillex-2015/

Draft and navigation restrictions meant the huge unit had to be moved overnight from the manufacturer’s pier to Singapore’s Port Jurong using a massive floating crane. The crane prepares to load the unit aboard the vessel chartered by UTC for the project.

Point2Point Newsletter 2

March 2015, Volume 4, Issue 3