J M Baxi Group has said that it has completed the load-in of a 1061-ton bridge module for McDermott Asia Pacific’s ONGC KG-DWN-98/2 project at Krishnapatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh.
In a statement, the company said that J M Baxi Heavy loaded the bridge at Rohini Yard, near Raigad, on April 10, 2024, setting sail for the east coast of India.
“The bridge was intended for installation in the KG Basin as part of the 98/2 project scheduled for May 2024. However, due to adverse weather conditions, the installation had to be postponed, requiring the relocation of the bridge on land until the next available installation window in December 2024,” it said.
The company further noted that this delay prompted J M Baxi Heavy to reassess the load-in feasibility, as the major loading structures used for the bridge were no longer available for load distribution, load-in, and stowage due to the monsoon.
“To address this, J M Baxi Heavy commenced engineering modifications a month in advance , considering the challenging weather conditions. Also, to ensure a smooth load-in, J M Baxi Heavy re-engineered the load-out steel structures on a tight timeline,” it said.
J M Baxi stated that various locations were evaluated for the load-in, including Krishnapatnam Port, Vizag Port, Hindustan Shipyard Jetty (Vizag), and the possibility of returning the barge to Rohini Yard. After careful consideration of costs and timelines, Krishnapatnam Port was selected for the load-in operation.
“The engineering team sourced suitable steel accessories from our existing inventory to avoid costly and time-consuming new fabrications. Following the completion of the engineering study, the team visited Krishnapatnam Port to assess feasibility and prepare for the operation. The bridge was successfully stowed at the 1J Container Terminal Yard, with protective plates deployed along the route to prevent damage to port infrastructure,” it said.
This operation marked the first stern-on load-in at Krishnapatnam Port.