Prepared for SolarDuck - Modular Construction
May 2026
From remote resources and energy projects to city-shaping infrastructure, we've built thousands of quality assets and facilities.
Engineering-led, our expertise has grown steadily to span building, civil, electrical, fabrication, marine, mechanical, pipelines, rail, tunnel and underground construction..
From wharves and jetties to ocean outfalls, breakwaters, and submarine pipelines — we bring coastal confidence to every project.
Our modular approach to construction has helped create productive ports for clients like Rio Tinto, FMG, Vale, and BHP, where over 1.2 billion tonnes of iron ore are shipped annually from wharves we built.
FGEN LNG Corporation (FGEN) engaged us to build and deliver the Interim Offshore Terminal Project ("IOT Project") at their LNG terminal in Batangas, in the Philippines.
We undertook the engineering, procurement and construction of both the Multi-Purpose Jetty and Onshore Gas Receiving Facility. The new Multiple Purpose Jetty is a permanent modification of the existing liquid fuel jetty which we constructed in 1998.
We revolutionised the design and construction of large-scale marine infrastructure when we delivered the Chith Export Facility - a large, complex and remotely located project for Rio Tinto at their Amrun bauxite mine, south of Weipa in Far North Queensland.
The facility comprises a 650 m access jetty, a 350 m loading wharf and an onshore conveyor system. Innovatively designed by Jacobs and constructed by us in just 10 months, modularisation was at the heart of the solution and our project team took it to new levels in scale and breadth.
We delivered a major wharf upgrade in two phases for Rio Tinto at Dampier Port, using modularisation to accelerate construction and reduce the cost of onsite labour.
Phase A included the construction of a 455 m wharf extension, a new access jetty, tail end structure, electrical deck, and modifications to the existing wharf.
At the height of the Australian resources boom (2004-2014), we became the marine partner of choice for Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), as they developed the infrastructure to support their new iron ore export business.
Following a destructive tropical cyclone, we were engaged by South32 to urgently restore and rebuild the cyclone-damaged GEMCO Wharf on Groote Eylandt. In less than 12 months, our project team achieved a major milestone—restarting operations after an intense and fast-tracked program of works.
To meet the challenge, we mobilised a sophisticated marine fleet from across Australia, Singapore, and the UAE. This included two large jack-up barges (Santa Fe and Pauline), two smaller jack-ups (Sealift 2 and Sealift 6), a 250-tonne crane barge, three flattop storage barges, and a support fleet of tugs and work punts. The mobilisation alone was a feat of logistics, setting the stage for a highly coordinated recovery effort.
We designed and constructed the marine structures for BCI Minerals’ Mardie Salt & Potash Project in Western Australia, using our innovative canti-traveller system for speed and low impact delivery.
The 'Mardie' Project is a large-scale, solar evaporation operation on the Pilbara coast. Capacity of the completed facility is estimated to be 5.35 million tonnes per annum of high purity salt and 140,000 tonnes per annum of sulphate of potash, over an operating life of at least 60 years.
We completed the main berth construction scope for BHP Mitsubishi Alliance's (BMA) SABR Project, using the Early Contractor Involvement process to develop a number of innovations.
SABR, short for 'Shiploader and Berth 2 Replacement', was a brownfields project located within the lease boundaries of BMA's existing Hay Point Coal Terminal near Mackay, Queensland. It included the disassembly and replacement of one of the existing shiploaders and berths to improve materials handling throughput and cyclonic wave immunity.
As part of the $10 billion Roy Hill Iron Ore project, we designed and constructed the Stanley Point Iron Ore Terminal at Port Hedland. We used substantial prefabrication and our innovative temporary works system for low impact, high productivity construction.
Our scope consisted of a two berth iron ore load out wharf, connected with a 3600 m long elevated road and overland conveyor to the ore stockyard. In addition to the wharf and the overland conveyor, we delivered an abutment, drive stations, three transfer stations and all SMPE&I works.
It's the technical problems and challenges solved behind the scenes by people empowered to think creatively and work collaboratively. It’s the alternative idea or innovation that saves time, reduces cost, makes us safer, and delivers more value.
It might not always be evident when you look at the end product, but it's there, inside every McConnell Dowell project.
Thank you for taking an interest in McConnell Dowell's skills, capabilities and approach. Additional information is available on our website, including additional project case studies.
Contact us through the link(s) at the bottom for advice or assistance with your project.
Jan Matthé
Group Technical Director - Ports & Coastal
M: +65 9030 0989
jan.matthe@mcdgroup.com LinkedIn