In order to support the growth of the largest European oil and chemical cluster on the Port of Antwerp, Mammoet has decided to install a new facility. The site is adjacent to the large deep-water Liberty-dock (Bevrijdingsdok). Thanks to this new location, Mammoet Belgium will be able to offer services with a fleet of new cranes ranging from 40-ton to 500-ton, tower cranes and SPMT’s, followed by an increase of its workforce in Antwerp.
Paul Van Vuren, Managing Director for Mammoet Belgium explains, “It is our strategy to continuously build on our offering to our clients and deliver efficient and cost-effective solutions. We aim to achieve this in Antwerp by investing in people and resources to maximize the potential of our new dock-side location.”
Mammoet has formed a partnership with the marine equipment owner, Astro Offshore, who owns and operates a fleet of offshore support vessels, including a variety of tugs and barges, providing services to oil & gas construction projects throughout the Middle East, Africa and Asia. This partnership allows Mammoet to expand its capacities in providing logistics solutions for on- and offshore oil and gas construction projects in the Middle East.
Martijn Kuipers, Managing Director of Mammoet Middle East and Africa said: “As barging is a critical aspect in the transport chain for all future oil and gas projects in this region, our new partnership will bolster our available barge and tug fleet in the region, and accordingly further strengthens our services in on- and offshore transport.”
Mammoet continues its development in Africa with the opening of a new office in Accra, Ghana. This new agency is expected to advance Mammoet’s offerings of specialist services in engineered heavy lifting and transport to the West African market. The official opening of the office was marked with an opening ceremony and an exclusive reception held at the residence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana, His Excellency Ron Strikker. At the opening ceremony, the Ambassador congratulated the Mammoet team and approved the Embassy’s support for the new office.
In order to pursue its policy of growth and expansion, Mammoet Germany has announced the opening of a new office in the city of Hamburg on December 13th.
“In order to recognize and implement our customers’ constantly growing requirements in the shipping and offshore wind sectors, it is important fir us to be present in the field in Northern Germany. (…) The Hamburg location will also give us optimal market penetration and cultivation in the local petrochemical market, with a stronger focus on the increasing challenges of the global logistics industry,” says René Biernacki, Commercial Manager North.
The heavy lift and transport specialist Mammoet has successfully installed three modules to support a new generator and turbine at the Arcellor Mittal Dofasco steel plant in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. To ensure proper operation, the equipment used had the capacity to move the modules and didn’t wright so much that it overloaded the foundation. Through careful analysis and a close collaboration with module’s designers, Hatch Limited, Mammoet chose the Titan Tower system as the best solution. It was able to disperse the weight of the modules so that with its own weight, it didn’t overload the foundation. All the steps of the operation were executed using SPMT, Hillman rollers and a Gantry system.
The Titan Tower system is made up of huge steel stools stacked and fastened together to reach a certain height requirement. Towers are also reinforced with cross bracing to provide a strong platform. The titan Tower was assembled on top of a skidding system, then loaded and moved along the skid track with the modules. It crossed over an open pit area using roro ramps and was placed inside the existing plant. Moreover, the client constructed permanent steel supports underneat the modules. Finally, Mammoet teams jacked down the modules onto the supports and removed the Titan Tower system, in order to install the turbine and generator underneath.
The heavy lifting and specialised transport company Mammoet and the SPMT and trailer manufacturer Scheuerle (member of the TII Group) have recently presented a new trailer system called Trailer Power Assist (TPA), designed to make heavy transport projects quicker and safer.
Manufactured by Scheuerle according to Mammoet’s specifications, the first TPA units were unveiled at a ceremony held at Scheuerle’s headquarters in Pfedelbach, Germany.
Each TPA trailer has a 1,000 horsepower diesel engine powering a hydraulic system, that results in a trailer with twice the pulling force of a convention prime mover unit but with no ballast requirements. According to the constructor the overall weight and length of transports will be reduced, thus lowering emissions and eliminating the need for multi-truck configurations.
“Trailer Power Assist is the most efficient, sustainable and cost-effective answer for the complex transport demands of large scale construction projects,” said Jan Kleijn, COO of Mammoet.
TPA transport solution is based on the self-propelled K25 modular platform vehicle which hydraulically drives four of the six axle lines by means of a Power Pack Unit (PPU). With a performance of 735 kW (1,000 hp) as well as a traction force of 400 kilonewtons, one vehicle in the version featuring a drive unit and a 6-axle platform trailer replaces two fully loaded heavy-duty truck tractors.
Designed for international transportation, the TPA has an assisted road speed up to 28km/h, which is up to 20 times faster than a self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT), as stated by Mammoet and Scheuerle. TPA’s hydraulic hub motors can be re-engaged to slow the load down hydrostatically, reducing wear and tear on its brakes, and provide the precision and control required to navigate narrow or winding sections of the route. According to the constructor, by reducing the overall weight of the transport – fewer trailers and less or no ballast – TPA improves fuel efficiency and, by reducing the overall length and number of powered units involved, TPA will reduce complexity, increase project safety and requires only one driver. TPA operates between -40C and +50C and is designed for transporting heavy modules to facilities in remote locations.
In Schiedam, the Netherlands, Mammoet became the world’s first user of Van Beest’s Green Pin Tycan chain for lifting. This product has been made with Dyneema, one of the world’s strongest fibre. The Green Pin Tycan has similar characteristics than a steel chain regarding strength and flexibility, and is also « eight times lighter », as stated the Dutch company.
This event was attended by Managing Director Mammoet Europe and Russia Wouter Van Noort and Anton Van der Zalm, Vice President Research and Development at Van Beest. At Mammoet, we pride ourselves on always looking for new, innovative solutions to exceed the highest safety standards. Green Pin Tycan helps us achieving that », commented Wouter Van Noort. In another hand, Anton Van der Zalm added he was « delighted that world leading companies like Mammoet see the benefits of using it for both lashing and lifting ».
Photo : from left to right : Anton Van der Zalm, Van Beest and Wouter Van Noort, Mammoet
The Turkish construction company Limak Insaat has just contracted Mammoet to carry out the transport and installation of 804 concrete elements for a new $4,3bn terminal construction project at Kuwait International Airport on behalf of the Kuwait Ministry of Public Works.
This state-of-the-art terminal should expand the airport and establish a new regional air hub in the Gulf, increasing passenger capacity to 25 million per year. Mammoet’s task will be to install all the concrete elements of the terminal’s main structure, weighing between 200 and 360t. To complete the operations, Mammoet will use nine crawler cranes with capacities from 600 to 1600t and 72 axle lines of SPMT.
