Darwin Port Iron Ore Ship Loader and Conveyor

Overview

Darwin Port, managed by Darwin Port Operations Pty Ltd, serves as Australia’s northern gateway for Australasian trade, supporting offshore oil and gas operations in the Timor Sea and off the coast of Western Australia. Handling a wide variety of cargo, the port has an intricate harbour control system and supply chain network. Pructon was engaged to fabricate and assemble sections of the iron ore ship loader and conveyors to improve the port's handling capabilities. The fabrication of structural steel sections took place at Pructon’s Darwin workshop, where they also performed surface treatment. These sections were then transported to Darwin Port, where the ship loader was assembled and placed onto its tracks, followed by the commissioning of both the conveyor and loader systems.

Scope of Work

• Off-Site Fabrication and Surface Treatment: Fabrication and surface treatment of structural steel completed in Pructon’s Darwin workshop.
• Transportation to Darwin Port: Transported module sections from Pructon’s fabrication yard to Darwin Port.
• Scaffolding Erection: Erected scaffolding to support on-site assembly and installation.
• Conveyor Gallery Fabrication and Installation: Fabricated and installed 250 metres of conveyor gallery.
• Conveyor Belt Running and Splicing: Ran and spliced conveyor belts on the ship loader and gallery.
• Structural Steel Installation and Site Welding: Installed structural steel and performed site welding for secure integration.
• On-Site Sandblasting and Painting: Conducted sandblasting and painting on-site to complete surface treatment. 

Outcomes and Benefits

• Enhanced Cargo Handling Capacity: The new ship loader and conveyor system improve the port's ability to handle bulk materials efficiently.
• Optimised Supply Chain Support: Enhanced port infrastructure supports vital supply chains for offshore oil, gas, and general trade.
• Reduced Project Downtime: Efficient off-site fabrication and streamlined transport minimised on-site assembly time and reduced overall project downtime.