Directory | Exhibition | News & Field Reports  | Events (PennWell) | Home

> Free Directory Listing

MV “Beluga Formation” transports world’s largest buoy
to offshore destination in the Gulf of Mexico

The dimensions of this buoy outrange many conventional vessels: A weight of 1100 tons and a 
height of 27 metres making it the world’s largest in its category. The loading of such a both 
large and highly sensitive object required absolute precision and detailed preparation. Recent 
modifications had changed the centre of gravity of the buoy and turned it asymmetrical – just 
one of the challenges the team on site had to react flexibly to.

To handle the project, the Beluga Transport Engineers, the crew aboard the MV “Beluga Formation”, the client, ALTUS OIL & GAS SERVICES acting for BW Offshore (BWO) and Advanced Production and Loading (APL), the manufacturer of the buoy, cooperated intensively to guarantee a successful conclusion of that task. ALTUS OIL & GAS SERVICES was appointed by BWO to project manage and arrange all the loading and transportation for the Topsides and Process modules for the Cascade Project. Reidar Evensen from Altus Oil & Gas Services praised the excellent efforts and support from the Beluga team in Singapore and Germany, especially having in mind that the requirements for this transport have changed frequently and become more complicated with time due to additional scope of work from end client, BWO. The know-how of the Beluga team on site was relied upon when the loading had to be adapted to changes in the proceeding or late modifications to the buoy or simply the local conditions in the port of Batam Island in Indonesia. “What we have here is an absolutely tailored solution making this transport possible under the complex circumstances and to which Beluga has contributed largely”, stated Reidar.

On June 19, 2009 the elaborate preparation culminated in the final part of the project ashore 
in Asia: the loading of the gigantic buoy onto MV “Beluga Formation”. Highly defined safety 
restrictions demanded by the uniqueness and value of the cargo took effect. The sensitive 
buoy, whose construction took more than a year, was situated on a pier with very shallow 
waters, therefore, a barge was placed alongside to address this bathometric challenge. The 
vessel withdrew from the scene in order not to interfere the operation whilst the floating 
crane approached the jetty to lift the buoy. The safe composition and mooring of the different 
floating units involved in the loading process required highest prudence to exclude any danger 
to the buoy.

The floating crane slowly lifted the cargo and positioned it on the multipurpose heavy-lift 
project carrier which had come alongside again. A specially designed grillage had been welded 
and was fixed to the weather deck of the vessel. One of the main tasks was guaranteeing the 
structural integrity of the vessel: The weight and size of the buoy and the grillage put 
tremendous loads on the ship’s structure, in some parts they exceeded 200 tons per square 
metre. Not only the “hardware” in the form of special vessels like MV “Beluga Formation” must 
be available to handle such forces. Most important are the people who know how to use it and 
are also able to optimise the trim and the stability for a voyage across the world’s oceans. 
Responsible for that are the transport engineers of Beluga who Yahaya Sanusi is one of: “The 
transport of such cargo requires enormous preplanning and calculations. Our success underlines that we know what we are doing and can take such challenges.”

For more information please visit www.beluga-group.com

Posted: July 30, 2009

+  +  Media Links +  +

For more information, media details or sample copies please contact
wilhelms@pennwell.com

www.sicking.de

Please send news releases to Wilhelm Sicking - WilhelmS@pennwell.com