June 26 - Mammoet has completed the final phase of the Methanex Geismar 2 plant relocation from Punta Arenas, Chile to Geismar, Louisiana, USA.
Mammoet was subcontracted by Jacobs Engineering Group (Jacobs) to support the reverse modularisation of the plant and to assist in the heavy lifts, heavy haul and transport of the methanol plant from Chile to the USA.
Methanex, the world's largest producer and supplier of methanol, made the decision to relocate a second plant from Chile to Louisiana in 2013.
Relocation, as compared to a new-build, offers capital savings and a reduced project timeframe, says the company.
The heavy lift, heavy haul and shipping of this second unit and its many heavy components had a combined weight of 183,556 tonnes.
Challenges included loading and sea fastening in the Magellan Strait, a treacherous waterway notorious for strong currents and sudden storms, as well as heavy transport over roads and bridges and the offloading in Louisiana, where a custom bridge had to be engineered to cross the Mississippi River levee.
During the course of the project, Mammoet lifted over 350 heavy components and modules and set them up for reassembly.
Mammoet also managed sub-contractors, secured permits and maintained full oversight over the transport operation, which included chartering of all ships for the project through Mammoet's own chartering office.
Shipping the largest module from Chile to Louisiana on Cosco's Kang Sheng Kou semisubmersible vessel.
