Having a fleet big enough and diverse enough to handle the requirements of a project, while also being able to cater to the demands of other clients, was one of the reasons Jumbo-SAL-Alliance was tagged to transport 450,000 frt of cargo for JGC Corporation. 

According to the company, its Jumbo Javelin has already loaded the first on 19 transports for the Basrah Refinery upgrading project at Dahej in India.

Multiple vessels deployed

JSA added that Jumbo Kinetic, with two 1,500 t cranes, and SAL Heavy Lift’s MV Svenja, with two 1,000 t cranes will be dedicated to the project for the duration of the transportation scope.

The two vessels, with deadweight tonnage of 14,000 t and 12,500 t respectively, are strong enough to handle all modules and small enough to be able to access the restricted Morimatsu plant in Nantong, China, where much of the cargo will be loaded.

During this time, the two vessels will undertake seven voyages each, providing the project with full flexibility and control of logistics. Sailing schedules are firmly fixed so that all parties within the logistical cycle know well in advance when which cargo will be collected and delivered.

A combined Jumbo-SAL-Alliance fleet of thirty vessels puts the company in a position to be able to dedicate additional vessels for the remaining five voyages for JGC.

“Having the two dedicated vessels for the duration of this phase gives us visibility, ensuring that we can remain on schedule. Jumbo-SAL Alliance who can accommodate the size and capability required for this project is indispensable for the successful delivery of the project to our client,” Kiharu Yamashita, project logistics manager of Basrah project, JGC explained.

Sourcing from multiple locations

Conducting consecutive runs, the Jumbo-SAL-Alliance will transport a range of items from locations in India, China, Thailand, and Korea. Amongst the cargo will be 80 modules.

In addition to multiple locations, the Alliance also has to draw from its experience with module lifting frames. Specifically for the project, and for lifting modules at the Morimatsu facility, JGC has designed a frame.

The shipments will also include transportation of 31 pieces of equipment including a regenerator, vacuum columns, a fractionator, and seven 800 t bullet tanks, each one 82 m in length.

The Jumbo-SAL-Alliance began preparations for the project back in 2019, with the provision of engineering support. This included the design of four different loading spread mats, covering the various vessel types to be used, cargo footprint and location of the cargo on the vessel.

Laurens Govers, commercial manager at Jumbo-SAL-Alliance, said, “In every project that we undertake we consider not only the costs of transportation, but also the total project cost. With this project, our early involvement played a considerable role in this. We were able to work along with the client in tweaking the sailing schedule and suitable vessel rotations to match the vessels and maximise efficiency.”

Basrah refinery upgrade

JGC is carrying out an EPC scope in the refinery upgrading project on behalf of the South Refineries Company, an energy company under the Iraq Ministry of Oil. JGC’s scope includes construction of a fluid catalytic cracking unit (34,500 bpd capacity), a vacuum distillation unit (55,000 bpd) and a diesel desulfurization unit (40,000 bpd).

The new facility will be located adjacent to the current Basrah refinery and will provide plant facilities that meet the international environmental standards.

Funds for the project have been provided by a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It is the largest Japanese assisted reconstruction project since the 2003 Iraq War. For JGC Group, it is the second project in the country since their completion of a power plant reconstruction in 2013.

The upgraded refinery will help to close a supply-demand gap for Petroleum products in Iraq, reducing the country’s dependence on imports. It will also contribute to reconstruction and economic growth, not least in the creation of several thousand jobs both for the construction and operation of the refinery.