deugro delivers over 52,600 CBM of critical equipment for INEOS Project One

For the construction of Europe’s most sustainable ethane cracker, deugro UK—in collaboration with deugro China and deugro Chartering as well as with the local support of deugro Antwerp—timely delivered ten storage bullets and further equipment from China to the Port of Antwerp, Belgium.

At the Gangxin Heavy Equipment Port of Zhangjiagang, China, the cargo units—with single weights of up to 738 metric tons, measurements of up to 47.8 x 9.2 x 11.5 meters and an overall weight of more than 6,890 metric tons—were loaded onto the DP2 heavy lift crane vessel Jumbo Fairplayer and the K3000-class heavy lift vessel Jumbo Fairmaster, one of only two ships from the K-class family in existence worldwide with a combined Safe Working Load (SWL) of 3,000 metric tons.

“A challenge was to identify and secure sufficient vessel space on suitable heavy lift vessels with the appropriate lifting capacities and within the tight schedule of only six weeks, from the receipt of the order to loading. Such vessels, which can safely handle and ship sensitive oversized and heavy lift (OSHL) components, are limited and often booked for considerable periods in advance. However, thanks to our many years of experience and long-standing strategic carrier relationships, we were able to secure the required vessel space within just two weeks,” said Kai von Taube, Head of Global Chartering at deugro.

The first vessel to sail was the Jumbo Fairplayer, loading two C4 product storage bullets and three C4 import storage bullets with a total volume of 25,286.20 CBM weighing 2,857.80 metric tons. Three weeks later, the Jumbo Fairmaster followed carrying two PGP and three CGP storage bullets—totaling all together 25,286.20 CBM weighing 3,690 metric tons.

The Jumbo Fairmaster was facing a threat of heavy congestion at Gangxin Port, meaning that it would have had to lie at anchor for almost a month before berthing. However, in cooperation with the carrier, deugro was able to arrange an optimized loading by providing additional lashing and welding crews to convince the terminal to allow earlier berthing, saving the project and the client considerable waiting time and avoiding additional costs in detention.

For each of the two ocean voyages, four of the five storage bullets were loaded and stowed on the vessel’s weather deck and the fifth one in the lower hold. To safely stow and secure each of the four storage bullets on the weather deck, some of the vessel’s tween deck hatch covers were positioned on the weather deck to serve as load spreading equipment, with various stoppers used as longitudinal and transversal securing. For lifting, maneuvering and positioning the remaining storage bullet safely and efficiently in the vessel’s lower hold, which is limited in space and size, and due to the weight and sensitivity of the oversized cargo components, precision down to the centimeter was required. For this purpose, the carrier designed detailed method statements, which were cross-checked by the engineers of dteq Transport Engineering Solutions (dteq).

“dteq was requested to prepare the overarching method statement for the project, reviewing and commenting the different subcontractors’ input and thereby ensuring that the interfaces are addressed and the solutions developed are workable for all engaged parties. It was a great honor to attend the operations as supervisor on deugro’s behalf. As even meticulous planning may need to be amended on site due to sudden changes during the operations, it is always good to attend as an experienced engineer being able to take care of the management of change procedures and to prioritize safety even when the clock is ticking,” said Arlan Baylon, Regional Director of dteq APAC.

Under the personal supervision of deugro’s project managers, dteq’s engineers, a marine warranty surveyor and the carrier’s supercargo, the loading and load-securing operations were successfully executed within approximately five days per vessel. After 12,958 nautical miles and 53 days, each vessel punctually arrived at the Port of Antwerp, so that all cargo units could be timely discharged by the vessel’s cranes under the personal supervision of deugro UK’s teams and the client’s Marine Warranty Surveyor.

“We are grateful for the trust placed in us by our client and the order to deliver these critical components for this highly prestigious project. And we are happy that thanks to the excellent and clockwork-like collaboration with our client and all partners, these impressive cargo units were safely and efficiently delivered within the project’s schedule and budget ,” said David Richardson, Operations Manager at deugro UK.