| Details |
SBM Offshore contracted NMT Global Project Logistics to move a consignment of 25 wire rope reels from Norway to Indonesia in July 2015.
The supplier’s quay in Tonsberg was located on the city canal and was not suitable to receive ocean vessels due to limited available draft and maximum length restrictions. The supplier’s fixed quay crane was also unsuitable to load an ocean vessel due to its’ limited lifting height. These factors led to a decision to load the reels onto two barges at the supplier’s premises and then transfer the cargo to the Agility quay, which was located about 800m further along the canal. Here, the ocean vessel could berth safely without any limitations. At the Agility quay, we hired a 400 tonne, floating crane to transfer the cargo from the barges onto the ocean vessel.
The preparations started with a HAZID-meeting approximately one month before the load-out in Norway. During the HAZID, all parties involved discussed the potential hazards and risks associated with the load-out and determined the control measures that we would adopt. We incorporated the HAZID output in our Transport Manual, which included:
• Mooring plans for the barges, tugs and vessel.
• Barge loading/offloading sequence, including relevant stability and ballasting plans and calculations.
• Cargo lashing and securing calculations on the barge, including NDT of welds.
• Tow calculations, voyage and weather planning.
• Vessel loading/offloading sequence, including relevant stability and ballasting plans and calculations.
• Cargo lashing and securing plan, including NDT of welds and deck load-spreading calculations.
• Voyage plan, including weather restrictions and route criteria.
• Draft surveys, quay specifications.
• Safety measures.
• All equipment (Class) certifications.
2 days before the load-out, NMT Global Project Logistics organised a pre-loading meeting at the supplier’s premises to ensure all parties were aware of the HSE requirements on the project, the methodology and the loading schedule.
Once the attending Marine Warranty Surveyor had approved the Transport Plan, we arranged a toolbox meeting with the stevedores and the barge crews and loading operations commenced thereafter.
The barges were loaded and unloaded in a continuous sequence to ensure continuous operation of the floating crane. Due to limited space on the ocean vessel, reels had to be stowed with less than 300mm between adjacent reels. This necessitated a robust communication protocol between the floating crane, stevedores and port captain. We reinforced these lines of communication during our toolbox talks. Upon completion of loading, lashing and securing, we performed visual inspections NDT of welds. The Marine Warranty Surveyor issued the sail-away certificate to everyone’s satisfaction.
|