Lift Planning | Engineering & Design: Mechanical
In 2019, Hay Point Coal Terminal was facing a complex task: to remove heavily corroded conveyor galleries weighing up to 155 t without disturbing a busy port shipping schedule or any surrounding structures, and near the protected Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. HPCT engaged FIELD Engineers and WALZ Group for this high-stakes project.
FIELD Engineers and WALZ began with detailed risk assessments, which then drove further planning: all structural elements were inspected with detailed mass and centre-of-gravity calculations verified on site. Lift windows considered shipping schedules, tides and weather to minimise uncontrolled factors. Gallery deck units were designed to be stripped in a 30-minute cycle time, to quickly reduce weight. And an innovative “marine forklift” was used to support and cut gantry sections in half, allowing a smaller crane and barge to fit within the wharf structure.
The lifts were all executed as planned, with no impact on port operations and no environmental breaches. In a project that would daunt many lifting specialists, FIELD’s industry-leading expertise in engineered lift studies meant all the complexities of this project were managed in partnership with WALZ to deliver a fast, safe and successful result. And the Australian crane industry agreed, awarding FIELD and WALZ the 2019 Project of the Year Award for this work.
When everyone else is scratching their heads or telling you it can’t be done give us a call.
