McConnell Dowell was awarded a contract by BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) to undertake the main berth construction scope for their Shiploader and Berth 2 Replacement (SABR) Project. 

SABR is a brownfields project located within the lease boundaries of BMA's existing Hay Point Coal Terminal near Mackay, Queensland. It includes the disassembly and replacement of one of the existing shiploaders and berths to improve materials handling throughput and cyclonic wave immunity.

The award of the contract followed a 12-month collaborative Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process led by BMA and involving design engineer Aurecon and ourselves. Working collaboratively with our customer and their designer enabled us to add value through smarter, safer and more constructable solutions.

For example, the adoption of a fully modularised fabrication and installation methodology, and use of a heavy lift vessel (HLV) for both demolition and construction phases, has delivered significant safety, cost and schedule benefits.

The integrated team also focused on engineering out, or controlling risks through elimination or substitution. For example, they developed a construction approach that eliminated the need for our workforce to travel to the workfront by marine vessel. That’s a huge safety benefit, eliminating weather risks and also reducing downtime.

First activity on site (establishment of temporary facilities) occured in late 2021. The shutdown work associated with the main shiploader and berth replacement works commenced in early 2022, with a duration of approximately 16 months.