Heavy Lifting: Giant Pipe Racks Shipped for New FPSO
From Brazil to China and then back to Brazil, five pipe racks and three modules weighing a total of 1,871.51 metric tons and measuring 24,075 m³ will be transported by heavy lift shipping specialist HANSA HEAVY LIFT for a new floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) to eventually operate off the coast of Brazil.
With the heaviest piece weighing 730 metric tons, the cargo was loaded onto the HHL Valparaiso at the ports of Itajaí and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil before being transported to Qingdao, in the Shandong Province of China, where it will undergo final outfitting before being transported back to Brazil.
“Our in-house team of engineers worked closely with the customer from the onset of the order to come up with the most viable and cost effective transport solution for this very complex project,” said Joerg Roehl, Chief Commercial Officer, HANSA HEAVY LIFT.
“This included custom-built grillage for loadspreading on deck to accommodate the heavy modules, the modification of lifting lugs and the installation of platforms for safe access."
“We also had limited cargo information which meant a cargo inspection was necessary to assess the clash of rigging arrangements with the equipment and protrusions,” said Ian Broad, Director Cargo Management, HANSA HEAVY LIFT.
The heavy lift specialist also faced additional challenges which included draft and navigational restrictions at the river passage in Itajaí, tight stowage, and a long waiting time at all ports, which made general planning more difficult.
The pipe racks and modules belong to the FPSO unit P-67, which is being designed for the pre-salt clusters off the coast of Brazil.