Multipurpose carrier AAL Shipping has devised a tailor-made heavy lift transport solution for a key shipment of chemical plant components from Sattahip, Thailand to Dampier, Australia, aboard one of its S-class vessels.
Delivering for American Shipping and Chartering (ASC), AAL opted for the 19,000-dwt AAL Dampier. The ship’s combined maximum lift capacity of 700 tonnes, three cargo holds, flexible tweendecks and an expansive weather deck, allowed for a tailored stowage plan that maximised cargo capacity whilst remaining compliant with safe-navigation visibility-line regulations for the tallest component, which measured almost 20 m in height.
With some components exceeding 100 tonnes apiece, AAL Dampier’s crane was given its biggest test when handling a chemical tank. With clearance tight between the weather deck and the bottom of the unit, a 16-point rigging configuration with specific slinging lengths, was required.
“With less than 500 mm of clearance between the weather deck and the unit, precision engineering and close oversight were essential. We deployed an onsite engineering team to supervise the operation and ensure a safe and successful delivery,” explained Nicola Pacifico, AAL’s head of transport engineering.
Led by Perdaman Chemicals & Fertilisers, Project Ceres is a large-scale urea plant on the Burrup Peninsula, around 20 km northwest of Karratha, Western Australia. One of Australia’s largest downstream manufacturing projects and projected to cost around USD4.5 billion, the facility is expected to produce approximately 2.3 million tonnes of urea every year.
“For this project, we redeployed the heavy lift vessel AAL Dampier from her regular liner service to provide a dedicated tramp solution,” said Chris Yabsley, chartering manager at AAL Australia. “She proved to be the ideal vessel for the operation, and we successfully loaded and discharged the cargo without incident or damage.”
Earlier this month, HLPFI reported that AAL had completed its landmark 16-barge move as the carrier signals a push in South America.
