48
ACT
APRIL 2014
PRODUCT FOCUS
SPMTs
Thenew cokedrumswill beused to
replace existingdrums at the refinery.
With the acquisitionof thenewaxle
lines andmatchingpowerpackunits,
Mammoet takes theusabilityof SPMT
modulesone step further. Thenewly
developedpowerpackunits,whichpower
thehydraulicsof themodules,will feature
a140kW electric engine inaddition toa
robust 147kWdiesel engine. Thehybrid
powerpackunits arepart ofMammoet’s
sustainability strategy, as thehybriddesign
comeswith improvedpowermanagement
and fuel efficiencyand reduces emissions.
Another advantage is that thepowerpack
units allow for indooroperationswithout
theneed for extra exhaust or ventilation
systems.
Break-through project
For thepast year, Tradelossahasbeen
workingononeof the largest andmost
important oil andgasprojects inLatin
Americaat thePort ofCoatzacoalcos,
EtilenoXXI. InDecember 2013,
Tradelossa transported two setsof 275
metric tonboilers from theport to the
jobsiteona self-propelledmodular
transporter (SPMT) configuration. The
boilerswere17meters long, 8.5meters
wide and10meters tall. Tradelossa
developedaproject-specific solution that
combinedaccuracy, safetyand innovation
to ensure that the cargowouldarrive
inperfect condition. The equipment
configurationdevelopedbyTradelossa’s
engineerswas able to transport the cargo
formore than10kilometers.
Whatmade thisproject sounique
and challengingwas the fact that there
werevery critical height limitationdue
toa critical pipe rackon theway to the
site.Withnoother alternative route,
anda schedule thatwas extremely tight,
innovative solutionshad tobe considered.
The easiestway to transport such
largepieceswouldhavebeen touse a
largenumberof hydraulic axleswitha
SPMT, and just place thepiecesover the
equipment.However, becauseof thepipe
rack, this alternativewasnot physically
viable. The local authoritiesdemanded
that therebe at least a30 centimeter gap
between the topof theboilers and thepipe
racks. These racks carry critical chemicals
in the area, and therewas just noway to
bypass them.
As abetter alternative, Tradelossa
decided touse a configuration that could
handle theweight of theboilers andat
the same time could lower theheight
of the equipment. The result of such
configurationwas a theuseof adouble
hydraulic configurationwithone6-axle
SPMTplusone10-meter extensiondeck
plusone6-meter extensiondeckplus six
hydraulic axles.
TradelossaapproachedGoldhofer about
thepossibilityof this SPMT configuration
and if it had everbeendone in thepast.
Goldhofer confirmed that thiswouldbe
the first time for this configuration. In fact,
itwas sounique thatGoldhofer’s loading
simulation system couldnot calculate it.
Tradelossamovedaheadwith itsown
calculationprocess, and its engineering
staff designed special adaptorsbetween
parallel extensions,whichwouldbeused
with thedoublehydraulic configuration.
Two6-meter extensionswere added to
the10-meterdecks, and the adapterswere
anchored to support theboilers.
“As a result,wehadadoubleSPMT
hydraulic extendeddeck configuration,”
saidTradelossa. “A configuration that
provided the load support needed, the
flexibility for avery complex road to site,
andmost importantlyminimize theheight
togounder the critical pipe racks. This
configurationprovidedabreakthrough for
the transportationof thepieces.”
Modifications to the roadwaywere
required toachieve aproper turning
radius. To exit from theport, the cargo
had topass a constructionarea that
restricted the turning radius.
The roadalsohad tobedugout about
60 centimeters inorder topassunder the
rackof pipes that crossedover the lane.
Several power lineshad tobemoved to
obtain the requireddistance requiredby
the authorities. Thanks to the anticipated
planning, themovewasmadewith
complete success and zerodamages to the
cargo, aTradelossa’s spokesman said.
Ship launch
The
Taylor James
is a2,600-tonoffshore
supplyvessel thatmeasures about 295
feet long, 62 feetwide and105 feet tall.
When thevessel needed tobe transported
to the shipyard’s launchway, Berard
Transportationwas called in tohandle the
job.Using52 linesof ESEs, togetherwith
Mammoet recently
moved six coke drums
on Scheuerle SPMTs
for the Chevron El
Segundo Refinery.
Tradelossa developed a hauling plan that
utilized a double hydraulic configurationwith
one 6-axle SPMT, one 10-meter extension
deck, one 6-meter extension deck and six
hydraulic axles.
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