INPEX CORPORATION announced today the on-schedule completion of the Ichthys LNG Project’s dredging program in Darwin Harbour in the Northern Territory of Australia.
The program, which began in August 2012, involved the safe dredging and disposal of more than 16 million cubic meters of rock and sand from the harbor to create a deep shipping channel and berthing area for large LNG, LPG and condensate carriers servicing LNG processing facilities at Bladin Point near Darwin.
A separate dredging program for the Ichthys LNG Project’s gas export pipeline has also been completed with dredgers demobilized on July 23.
To date, the Ichthys LNG Project’s extensive public environmental monitoring program has recorded only a few minor impacts in Darwin Harbour, which are in line with original predictions. International dredging, marine engineering and offshore projects contractor Van Oord led the program using some of the world’s largest and most powerful dredging equipment.
INPEX Dredging Manager Harutoshi Usui said: “Without dredging, the Project would not have been able to progress marine construction work on the module offloading facility and jetty, which are critical pieces of onshore infrastructure. ”
“The dredging campaign was also our most visible piece of work in Darwin and an opportunity to show that we could meet our commitments to the community, including environment and heritage commitments. At the peak of the dredging campaign we had more than 300 people working on the program, as well as a range of local businesses including subcontractors for auxiliary marine equipment, workshop, welders, catering, accommodation and transport.”
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Press Release, August 4, 2014