Jumbo Shipping, Pluto LNG Phase I

Jumbo Shipping’s heavy lift vessel Daniella has completed her 11th and final voyage for the Pluto LNG project in Dampier, Australia. Between October 2008 and October 2009 she transported 256 pieces of equipment for this project, including pre-assembled structures and pipe racks weighing up to 240 tonnes. HLV Fairlift has completed 12 voyages and will start the final phase of another 5 shipments.

The Pluto LNG project in Dampier is developed by EPC-contractor Foster Wheeler WorleyParsons (FWW) for Australian energy major Woodside. The project comprises the installation of five subsea production wells connected to an onshore LNG processing train (plant) to be constructed on the Burrup Peninsula LNG Park near the port of Dampier.

Jumbo was contracted for the shipment of the pre-assembled modules for the onshore LNG train. These modules, with typical weights between 25 and 240 tonnes, consist of pre-assembled pipe racks and other LNG processing equipment. Loading from Laem Chabang Port and Port Sattahip (Thailand), Port Klang (Malaysia) and the port of Melbourne (Australia), HLV’s Daniella and Fairlift have been working continuously for this extensive project.

The Puto LNG project is challenging in many ways: logistically, from the engineering perspective and from an operational point of view. The project will be developed in a record-time of five years, with discovery of the gas field in 2005 and planned production of first gas in 2010. In this tight schedule, the on-time delivery of the modules is of key-importance.

Since the construction site offers little storage space, the pre-assembled units have to be shipped in the right sequence at the right time. Dampier’s draught restrictions bring another challenge. To be able to discharge always, a crucial condition for this project, the ships are allowed a maximum draught of 5.30 m. That’s why Jumbo selected its E-class vessels: with their high level of stability and shallow draught they can be fully loaded within these limitations. Flexibility is key and sometimes the designed stowage and lifting plans are adjusted at short notice to cope with last minute changes.

These conditions require a high level of cooperation and trust between Jumbo’s engineers, the client and the ships’ crews. Having met the challenges successfully, the first phase, numbering 23 voyages, has been completed without a flaw. Completion of the second and final phase is expected in april 2010.