BRAVE NEW WORLD
Bigger, stronger, more efficient; that is what investors require from
companies operating in the energy sector. Epitomizing this ever-
growing imperative, the aptly-named Mammoet, a Dutch heavy lift
company, is occupying a leading role in delivering some of the largest
industrial projects ever constructed. The scale of the company’s
operations is jaw dropping, and Robin Koenis, managing director,
speaks with an appreciable sense of pride when asked about the
company’s operations. “The main objective in construction projects
is to get the client up and running within their deadlines, preferably
even sooner. Our engineering, planning and safe delivery are aimed
at realizing just that.”
“In Singapore, the ExxonMobil SPT project represents a good
example,” explains Koenis. “It comprised multiple contracts on Jurong
Island, working on the ethylene cracker facility. We deployed a crane
with a capacity of 4,000 tons, the largest in the world at that time,
and also had to transport 44 pre-assembled 1,500-ton pipe rack
modules from the Philippines to Singapore, as well as eighteen 2,500-
ton furnace modules from Thailand to Singapore.”
At the peak of its activity at Jurong Island, Mammoet had 40
cranes. The heavy-lifter’s work culminated in the transport of several
1,600 ton splitter columns from Malaysia to Singapore before on-site
installation. Imaginative engineering was required to transport these
splitter columns over a jetty, capable of bearing only 1,200 tons.
Mammoet conceived an ingenious solution reducing the ground
bearing pressure on the jetty throughout the entire load-out. This
eliminated the requirement to spend any time or expense on construction of new load-out facilities or reinforcing existing ones. Load-out, transport and installation were completed with remarkable rapidity, and all without causing downtime for the neighbors of the
client.
This is not the only massive logistical project Mammoet has dealt
with recently. The Gorgon, Icthys and Wheatstone projects in Australia
have also provided the company with another significant opportunity
to demonstrate its capabilities. “The total weight of these modules
for the three projects is almost 750,000 metric tons and the largest
modules are almost 7,000 tons, which is roughly the same weight as
the Eiffel tower!” states Koenis.
McDermott, an EPC company, is also delivering services for these
huge projects in Australia. “Ten years ago, a project would cost
perhaps USD 200-500 million. Right now, you are speaking one, two
or three billion as the cost of taking a project forward. The good
thing about Singapore as a base is that attracting staff and resources
to complete these initiatives is easier,” says Hugh Cuthbertson, vice
president & general manager of McDermott. “Some of these big
projects are of such scale they need more than just assets available
in APAC to complete them- sharing engineering vessels and capital-
izing on the multiple vessels we have, including the 108 under con-
struction, means that McDermott can be trusted to deliver these
projects reliably.”
Companies large and small are working towards delivering on
these gargantuan projects. “As of now, Singapore is still doing very
well- the market potential is enormous,” states R K. Herojit, managing
director of Hask Engineering. “There are also other countries where
large projects are proceeding, such as Vietnam, which is capitalizing
on the opportunity to cooperate with Japan to utilize gas. Elsewhere,
people are actively seeking opportunities. In terms of the offshore
market, this still is a key forte of Singapore first and foremost.”
These projects do present unique challenges, as the executive
well knows. Herojit goes on to explain that another key project for
the company was constructing living quarters and installing HVAC
systems for the Ekofisk project run by ConocoPhillips. This job involved
action on an offshore accommodation platform able to house 452
staff. For companies like Hask, such an effort can be a commercial
challenge; effort must be made to shave down costs as best
possible.
“Although we have other terminals in China and Indonesia, Singapore is by far our largest investment destination in the region and
serves as a regional headquarters and center of expertise,” says Koen
Verniers, president of Oiltanking. “Within the global portfolio, Asia
Pacific accounts for approximately 20 percent of worldwide assets
and revenues,” he adds, detailing that it is not just engineers who
dream big in Singapore. “Going forward, our region has been designated as a growth region by the group and, as such, our mandate
is to maintain the market share we hold as Asia Pacific continues to
expand in terms of demand.”
Photo courtesy of Oiltanking
Koen Verniers,
president,
Oiltanking Asia
Pacific
Scott Cummins,
executive vice
president,
Offshore,
McDermott
Hugh
Cuthbertson,
vice president
and general
manager,
McDermott Asia
Pacific
