Mammoet’s rapid response ensured the safety and ongoing operation of ammonia ship loading in the Julianakanaal, for OCI Nitrogen. The local Mammoet team in Geleen, in the south of the Netherlands, safely lifted a 125-tonne ship barrier, allowing access and essential barrier repairs to be completed in under 48 hours.

OCI Nitrogen supplies ammonia for a global market from its base in the Netherlands. The ship barrier is permanently in place to provide a stable connection with transport ships as they load and unload their valuable cargoes. The barrier moves up and down with the changing waterline via four winches, maintaining a constant and secure link, and preventing any leakage into the surrounding land or water. In mid-March 2018, a fault developed in one of the winches and the barrier stopped moving. 

The barrier would normally be in daily use, servicing the ships that are moving into and out of the port to refill and supply ammonia to global clients. It wasn’t possible to fill the ships safely without the barrier, so it was a race against time to fix the winch and minimise the revenue lost through this fault. 

Verhoef Access Technology was employed to fix the winch but needed Mammoet’s experience and specialized equipment to lift the barrier safely and enable access to the faulty part. 

“We were concerned about the time needed to complete such a project,” says Patric de Konink, Plant Manager, OCI Nitrogen. “The barrier was hanging at an angle and there were access issues. Originally, we thought that the barrier would have to be lifted using water-based cranes. But, in just two days, Mammoet had put together a complete lifting plan for a land-based lift.” 

The team encountered an issue when the proposed lifting site was found to be unstable, but access to Mammoet’s extensive fleet enabled a different crane to be brought in to complete the job from another position. The winch was fixed and the barrier was fully operational in just 48 hours. The Mammoet team led the project, coordinating the work with OCI’s operational team, Verhoef engineers, and service and maintenance suppliers, Sitech. 

“The safety of the workers and the protection of the barrier were the most important considerations in this project,” explains Cees de Bont, Director Region South, Mammoet Netherlands. “We had a dedicated project manager based on-site at all times, along with a team of nine Mammoet professionals and four cranes. A fast and efficient lift was crucial to getting this barrier working again, but it was essential not to compromise the safety of any of the colleagues or impact the surrounding ships and machinery.” 

“Truly, the Mammoet team made a nearly impossible problem look easy,” continues de Konink. “This was a 125-tonne structure hanging in a vulnerable position with no easy access opportunities, but in just four days it was fixed and fully operational.”

courtesy: www.mammoet.com/news