Project freight forwarder deugro has delivered a 254-tonne well fluid slug catcher from Oman to Abu Dhabi, UAE.
deugro’s Oman and UAE branches collaborated to move the 28.2 m x 6.5 m x 7 m slug catcher from Nizwa, Oman via the port of Duqm to Mina Zayed port in Abu Dhabi.
In preparation for the project, deugro arranged for a route survey; created transport, stability, lashing and lifting plans; and held regular technical meetings with the client and its subsidiary dteq Transport Engineering Solutions.
The cargo was picked up in Nizwa in southeastern Oman, meaning that, geographically, the closest port would have been the port of Sohar. However, a route survey recognised the port of Duqm as the ideal port of departure as this option would minimise costly and time-consuming routes and civil works.
“The biggest challenge was the pre-carriage from the cargo pick-up location in the Nizwa Industrial Estate to the port of Duqm. Due to the cargo’s dimensions and weight, the identification of the best-suited route and any potential obstacles such as low bridges, narrow roads, road crossings and overhead signboards was vital to ensure safe and on-time delivery,” said Deepak Fernandes, transport engineer at dteq, UAE.
Following a site survey with dteq before arrival, the slug catcher was received at the port and secured on a multi-axle hydraulic trailer. After inspection, the trailer began its 700-km journey to the port of Duqm. Alterations along the way were needed, including levelling, filling and compacting of loose soil and potholes and removing road guard rails.
According to deugro Muscat’s operations manager Shaheen Sherif: “High wind speeds and sandstorms between Nizwa, Ghaba, Qarn Alam, Haima and Duqm along the route meant great caution was essential to ensure the safety of the workers and the cargo.”
The slug catcher arrived at the port of Duqm after five days and was loaded by cranes, under the supervision of the local deugro team. Once stowed and securely lashed, the vessel set sail to Mina Zayed port, where it was unloaded directly onto SPMTs under the supervision of deugro UAE.
