JSI Alliance has completed its scope of work at the Basrah refinery upgrade project for JGC Corporation with the delivery of nine modules.
The alliance, which comprises SAL Heavy Lift, Jumbo and Intermarine, mobilised two of its premium project carriers on the project: Jumbo Kinetic with pair of 1,500-tonne lift capacity cranes, and SAL’s Svenja, which boasts two 1,000-tonne cranes. Together, the ships delivered 84 modules using JCG’s bespoke lifting frame. These vessels were chosen for their lifting capabilities, while being small enough to access the restricted Morimatsu plant in Nantong, where the cargo was loaded.
A number of other vessels from the JSI fleet performed supporting roles in the execution of this project, undertaking seven voyages carrying seven 82 m-long, 800-tonne bullet tanks. Representing the main logistical scope in the Basrah project, the undertaking has seen JSI transport some 450,000 freight tons of cargo over a 12-month period.
JSI Alliance said that its ability to pool vessels allowed for flexible service delivery, ensuring the availability of a vessel with the required capabilities whilst continuing to support other clients. This proved invaluable during the Basrah project, allowing the alliance to swap out modules, using the most suitable vessel for each voyage, and avoiding interruptions to the workflow. Moreover, it said it was able to put its vessels to work on other projects in between cargoes, thereby avoiding congestion at the single berth available in Nantong.
To optimise efficiency further, JSI adopted other measures including HPME rigging and increasing the number of crew onboard the vessels. An additional efficiency was realised with the development of a straightforward enhancement of the lifting frame. JSI devised a system whereby wooden blocks were added to the lifting beam to create an extension of the guideline. With this, the process of hooking on the modules was sped up in a safe manner.
The company said that the project became increasingly efficient over time, with module transportation rising from one module per day at the outset, to nine modules during a six-day period at its conclusion.
South Refineries Company, an energy company under the Iraq Ministry of Oil, awarded JGC with the EPC contract for the Basrah project. Upon completion, the refinery will help close the gap in supply and demand for petroleum products in the country, reducing import dependency and contributing to job creation and economic development.
