GAC partners with OMA to move giant barge

May 26 - GAC and its local partner OMA Ivory Coast have project managed the movement of a massive installation barge from Escravos to Abidjan.

Hyundai 60 weighs 34,125 tonnes is 187 m long and is equipped with a 1,800 tonne crane.

GAC partners with OMA to move giant barge

May 26 - GAC and its local partner OMA Ivory Coast have project managed the movement of a massive installation barge from Escravos to Abidjan.

Hyundai 60 weighs 34,125 tonnes is 187 m long and is equipped with a 1,800 tonne crane.

Until recently, the barge had been engaged in pipe-laying and offshore installation works off the coast of Escravos, with GAC Nigeria providing a range of ship agency, husbandry and logistics services for the vessel and its attendant support fleet.

The barge has been demobilised and moved to Abidjan for maintenance work while it is held in stand-by until required for the next phase of the project, which starts in October.

On arrival in Abidjan, GAC worked with local partner OMA Ivory Coast to provide the range of agency, supplies, crew and logistics support the Hyundai 60 needed whilst it is in port. The team has also been entrusted with the demobilisation and export of a 300-tonne hydraulic hammer later this month.

GAC advises that the barge had to be carefully manoeuvred into Abidjan's inner anchorage, taking into account strong currents and high voltage electrical cables crossing the channel at 66 m (the air draft of the Hyundai 60 is just 58 m, leaving very little room for error). OMA Ivory Coast co-ordinated with Abidjan port pilots, and arranged tugboats and a power shutdown to ensure that the operation was completed safely and efficiently.

Erland Ebbersten, GAC Group vice president for Africa, Russia & Central Asia says: "Our appointment to take care of the Hyundai 60 serves as a timely reminder that through co-operation with our strategic network partner, OMA, we can provide prompt, value-for-money solutions to meet the sometimes complex requirements of our customers operating in West Africa."

The GAC-OMA team is already preparing for the barge's remobilisation in September to return to Nigeria for the second phase of operations. That will include taking care of all the formalities for 300 workers who will be brought in to work on the Hyundai 60 as well as clearance and delivery of ship spares and project equipment to prepare for the task ahead.

www.gac.comHyundai 60 weighs 34,125 tonnes is 187 m long and is equipped with a 1,800 tonne crane.

Until recently, the barge had been engaged in pipe-laying and offshore installation works off the coast of Escravos, with GAC Nigeria providing a range of ship agency, husbandry and logistics services for the vessel and its attendant support fleet.

The barge has been demobilised and moved to Abidjan for maintenance work while it is held in stand-by until required for the next phase of the project, which starts in October.

On arrival in Abidjan, GAC worked with local partner OMA Ivory Coast to provide the range of agency, supplies, crew and logistics support the Hyundai 60 needed whilst it is in port. The team has also been entrusted with the demobilisation and export of a 300-tonne hydraulic hammer later this month.

GAC advises that the barge had to be carefully manoeuvred into Abidjan's inner anchorage, taking into account strong currents and high voltage electrical cables crossing the channel at 66 m (the air draft of the Hyundai 60 is just 58 m, leaving very little room for error). OMA Ivory Coast co-ordinated with Abidjan port pilots, and arranged tugboats and a power shutdown to ensure that the operation was completed safely and efficiently.

Erland Ebbersten, GAC Group vice president for Africa, Russia & Central Asia says: "Our appointment to take care of the Hyundai 60 serves as a timely reminder that through co-operation with our strategic network partner, OMA, we can provide prompt, value-for-money solutions to meet the sometimes complex requirements of our customers operating in West Africa."

The GAC-OMA team is already preparing for the barge's remobilisation in September to return to Nigeria for the second phase of operations. That will include taking care of all the formalities for 300 workers who will be brought in to work on the Hyundai 60 as well as clearance and delivery of ship spares and project equipment to prepare for the task ahead.