BMA Hay Point – Sustaining Shutdown Works

Continuing our working relationship with BMA at Hay Point, we were again engaged to provide marine assistance for a critical shutdown on one of their shiploaders. These works had us working alongside BMA and its nominated Head Contractor.

This project required the services of our marine equipment and specialist personnel to assist with the planned works that would be carried out during a 12 week outage. The planned works would see a range of maintenance activities completed on the shiploader to ensure it continues to operate reliably and safely.

As with all marine based works, this Project brought with it the need for our crew to continually adapt to the ever-changing weather conditions and modifications to schedule. By working closely with BMA and its Head Contractor, we were able to stay ahead of the game and address any hurdles in a safe and timely manner.

For these works, we provided the following specialist equipment together with expert operators:

1 x self-elevating platform with 120t crawler crane
1 x self-elevating platform with 250t crawler crane
1 x flat top barge
2 x tugs
1 x work boat
1 x crew boat

WICET – MP2 Marine Works

With stage 1 of the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET) completed, commissioned and fully operational in 2015, the construction barge wharf at the site was rendered redundant. After considering removal of the wharf, WICET decided it would be more beneficial to decommission and preserve the facility. This would keep the option of using it again for any further expansion works in the future. Walz Group was engaged by WICET to decommission and preserve the construction barge wharf at the facility. The project scope also included removing hazards to the general public that may access the area.

This project showcases our marine infrastructure capability. It highlights the benefit of owning our own specialist marine equipment and expert operators. The scope included:

Decommissioning and preservation of the construction barge wharf
- Removal, preservation and storage of pontoons, gangways and landings
- Removal of attachments on piles / sheet piles then cleaning and restoration of surface protection
- Design, supply and installation of a sacrificial anode system for the piles / sheet piling
- Maintenance of existing navigational lights and installing one new light on the mooring dolphin
- Installation of a security fence and safety signage
Ancillary make-safe works
- Modification to the berthing dolphin emergency ladders x 10
- Surface protection repairs to emergency ladder piles
- Surface protection repairs to piles W11-C and W15-C
Marine equipment and personnel
- Self-elevating platform
- 250t crawler crane
- Flat top barge
- Tug boat
- Work boat
- Crew boat

BMA Hay Point – Footbridge 3 Replacement

This work involved the urgent replacement of a heavily corroded footbridge at the Hay Point Coal Terminal. The new bridge had been fabricated, but was yet to be installed, and the existing structure was quickly deteriorating after the impact of Cyclone Ului. With high structural corrosion throughout the chords and stringers, the old bridge was not capable of withstanding a significant wind or wave event.

BMA sought to greatly reduce the risk of failure of the existing bridge by installing the new, prefabricated replacement which was capable of withstanding greater wind and wave events. The new bridge also reduced the chance of downtime to the adjacent berth, as mooring operations would be rendered disabled if the bridge were to fail.

Our primary scope was to install a pre-fabricated replacement bridge in accordance with the approved design drawings. This included removing the existing footbridge, relocating it to Mackay Harbour, and fabricating and fitting the missing connection pieces required for the installation of the bridge.

The works required the mobilisation of a range of our equipment and crew from our marine fleet to enable the installation. This included:

Jack up barge with crane to remove and replace the footbridge
Landing barge with capacity to accommodate the new and existing footbridge
Tug boat to manoeuvre equipment

BMA Hay Point — HPX 3 Expansion Works

Hay Point Coal Terminal is one of the largest coal export ports in the world. Walz Group had previously worked directly for the owner-operator, BMA, to urgently replace a footbridge . We were subsequently engaged to support BMA to deliver the third major expansion of the facility.

As part of this contract, Walz Group provided marine equipment and specialist personnel to support the shutdown scheduled as part of the project, and remove associated temporary works. Throughout the project, we continually adapted to the ever-changing weather conditions and modifications to schedule. By working closely with our client and taking an agile approach to resourcing requirements, we were able to meet all project milestones.

In its entirety, the expansion increased capacity at the terminal from 44 million tonnes to 55 million tonnes. The work included construction of a new berth and land reclamation, as well as building and fitting out new trestles, conveyers, and ship loaders.

Specifically, our scope included the provision of the following specialist equipment together with expert operators.

1 x self-elevating platform with Favco M2480D tower crane
1 x self-elevating platform with 250t crawler crane
1 x self-elevating platform with 100t crawler crane
2 x flat top barges
2 x tugs
1 x work boat
1 x crew boat

John Holland – Abbot Point X50 Expansion

We worked with John Holland Group to deliver the X50 Expansion at Abbot Point Coal Terminal. This work increased the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation’s annual export capacity to 50 megatonnes. The facility services the export requirements of a number of mine operators, including Newlands, Collinsville, and Sonoma mines.

Our scope incorporated a range of marine works associated with the extension of the transfer tower and construction of the additional operation berth, east of the existing Berth 1. The works included installation of piles, headstocks, and rail girders, as well as steelwork modifications, installation of new equipment, and modification of existing equipment to accommodate the expansion. Walz provided all associated marine equipment and qualified operators.

BMA Hay Point – Trestle Deconstruction

Based on our successful track record on multiple projects at Hay Point terminal, we were engaged by BMA to deconstruct and remove the original trestle and the 17BP conveyor installed when the facility opened in 1971. The ageing 1.8km structure transported coal from the terminal to waiting bulk carriers for more than 40 years and was decommissioned late in 2016.

Working from jack-up barges, our crews are dismantling the trestle and conveyor in sections, and transferring approximately 6,500 tonnes of steel to Half Tide Harbour by barge. Our work at Hay Point is ensuring that aging infrastructure is safely and carefully removed in order to best protect the local environment. In March 2019, Walz Group achieved two years recordable injury free on the project.

In conjunction with the main work of dismantling the trestle, Walz Group is undertaking additional separable portions of work under the same contract. Each separable portion of work is outlined below.

Disposal of Waste Material

Once on-shore, the trestle sections are separated into steel, concrete and timber components and prepared for transport to recycling facilities.

Dewatering and Processing of Pile Water

If the water located in the piles is not inert or has the potential to cause visual pollution, Walz is responsible for processing and filtering the water prior to release off-site.

TT8 Top Deck Removal

We are removing and disposing of the existing TT8 top deck, and installing the new structure and supporting componentry.

Berth 1 to MD2 Footbridge Installation

We have been contracted to install a new footbridge (Footbridge 2), with associated structural support and access walkways. The new structure will connect Berth 1 to MD2 after the deconstruction of 17BP conveyor and roadway.

Berth 2 Shutdown Works

The current shiploader infrastructure requires upgrading and refurbishment, as well as installation of new elements. We have completed:

Fender maintenance and chain replacements
Installation of a new davit crane
Upgrading the ship access gangway and supporting structures
Removal of redundant fenders
Other miscellaneous works as required

Berth 1 Shutdown Works

This refurbishment work is similar in nature to that outline for Berth 2 above and incorporates:

Fabrication and installation of a new tripper
Installation of new transfer chute and upgraded pulleys
Repair and surface protection to conveyor structure and rail girders
Supply and installation of new tripper rail
Installation of new walkways between berthing dolphins
Installation of new top Davit Crane
Fender chain replacements