On Thursday, a 45m high pipe-lay tower belonging to IHC Engineering Business (IHC EB) has left the Port of Tyne destined for Rotterdam.
The bespoke construction has towered over the Port since November 2013. In a complex operation lasting over 24 hours the tower was loaded aboard the Meri heavy load vessel which will deliver the tower to Rotterdam to be installed onto a pipe-lay vessel designed and constructed by IHC.
The pipe-lay tower was constructed at IHC EB based at the Port of Tyne over a 7 month period and represents the state-of-the-art in pipe-laying technology. It is a very visible testament to the booming offshore industry present on the Tyne.
Steven Harrison, Port of Tyne Chief Operating Officer, said: “The Port has built a close customer relationship with IHC EB since they relocated to our Tyne Dock Estate in 2010. This is one of many construction projects which IHC EB has loaded from the Port’s Riverside Quay and we hope there will be many more in the future as the river sees more demand from the emerging oil and gas fabrication sector.”
IHC EB has been a designer, manufacturer and installer of bespoke equipment for the offshore industries since 1997.
Alan Conway, IHC Engineering Business Construction Manager , said: “The 700 tonne tower was constructed for a joint venture between Sapura Kencana and Seadrill. It will eventually be used in the laying of underwater deep-sea flexible pipe and umbilicals essential for oil production in Brazil.
“The project has been challenging but exciting and the load out went as planned with the support of the Port of Tyne’s excellent operations team.”
Press Release, August 01, 2014; Image: Port of Tyne