The JSI Alliance comprising Jumbo Maritime, SAL Heavy Lift and Intermarine has recently completed its scope of project cargo transport in the Basrah Refinery Upgrading Project for JGC Corporation.

The Alliance dedicated two vessels to the project; the Jumbo Kinetic with her two 1,500-ton cranes, and the MV Svenja with two 1,000-ton cranes. Together, the Jumbo Kinetic and MV Svenja undertook the transport of 84 modules using JCG’s specially designed lifting frame. The two vessels were selected due to their having the required capabilities for lifting and transporting the modules while being small enough to access the restricted Morimatsu plant in Nantong, where the cargo was loaded.

A number of other vessels from the combined JSI Alliance fleet performed supporting roles in the execution of this significant project, undertaking a series of seven voyages consisting of equipment including seven, 82-metre, 800-ton bullet tanks. Representing the main logistical scope in the Basrah project, the undertaking has seen JSI transport some 450,000 freight tons of project cargo over a period of twelve months.

By pooling its vessels, the Alliance is able to provide a flexible service, whereby it can ensure the availability of a vessel with the required capabilities while continuing to support other clients. This has proven to be of considerable value during the Basrah project, allowing the Alliance to swap out modules, using the most suitable vessel for each voyage and avoiding interruptions to the workflow.

At the same time, the Alliance was able to put its vessels to work on other projects in between cargoes, thereby avoiding congestion at the single berth available in Nantong.

Kiharu Yamashita, Project Logistics Manager of JGC Corporation, “We are very happy with the work undertaken by the JSI Alliance. The Alliance has completed its scope within the timeframe we had anticipated by their fully supporting to our project to dedicate MV Jumbo Kinetic and MV Svenja for whole duration of PJ as well as assigning MV Jumbo Javelin, MV Fairmaster, MV Regine and MV Anna for our important heavy cargo shipments. We were particularly pleased with the smooth communications between all parties and the way in which Jumbo and SAL work together as one. This has undoubtedly made a significant contribution to the safe and efficient manner in which the scope was executed.”

Read more: JSI Alliance moving project cargo for Project Panther

Efficiency and safety

JSI took several steps to ensure optimal efficiency during the project. These measures included investing in HPME rigging and increasing the number of crew onboard the vessels.

JSI also came up with an enhancement of the lifting frame to make the project more efficient. They added wooden blocks to the lifting beam to create an extension of the guideline. This made the process of hooking on the modules faster and safer.

As a result of these measures, the project became increasingly efficient over time. Module transportation rose from one module per day at the start to nine modules during a six-day period at the end.

In addition to supporting the optimization of efficiency, the close cooperation between the JSI Alliance partners significantly boosted safety. After each voyage, they shared lessons learned among all involved in the project to maximize safe practices in future projects.

The South Refineries Company, which is an energy company operating under the Iraq Ministry of Oil, has awarded JGC an EPC contract for the Basrah project. The completion of this project will play a vital role in reducing the gap between the supply and demand of petroleum products in the country. This, in turn, will help to decrease the dependency on imports, create job opportunities and boost economic development.