Sarens completed a series of heavy transport, jacking and marine logistics operations at the Ridley Island Energy Export Facility near Prince Rupert, British Columbia, marking another milestone in the development of one of Canada’s largest LPG export terminals.
Working with AltaGas, the company offloaded and installed three 2,532 tonne LPG accumulators, two 700 tonne LPG bullets and 122 pipe rack modules, with 85 arriving by vessel and the remainder transported by road. Once completed, the facility will provide storage capacity for 600,000 barrels of propane and butane, connecting Canadian LPG production to international markets.
The project presented significant logistical challenges due to its remote location and harsh weather conditions. Situated just south of Alaska, the site is regularly exposed to heavy seas, temperatures close to freezing and persistent rainfall, requiring careful planning and flexible execution.
Using 96 axle lines of Self Propelled Modular Transporters and a Sarens CS250 jacking system, the team transported the 27.5 metre wide and 36 metre tall accumulators more than three kilometres from the jetty before lowering them 2.5 metres onto their foundations with millimetre precision.
Sarens also installed two jetty pipeline spans weighing up to 400 tonnes. One of the most complex operations involved transferring a 358 tonne span from a heavy lift vessel onto SPMTs mounted on a barge before using tidal movements and specialised transport equipment to position the structure onto its foundations.
The company also transported the 62.5 metre long LPG bullets through an active container terminal before installing them onto permanent foundations.
With the current scope nearing completion, Sarens is preparing for the next phase of the project, which will include additional accumulators, process modules and facility expansion works through 2027.
