News | antaresmarine

NEWS & UPDATES

Posted: 30th May 2025

PROJECT CARGO

As a recent example of the project cargo survey services that we provide and acting in this case as loss prevention surveyors on behalf of the cargo underwriters and shippers, we were instructed to attend and report on; the safe discharge, preparation for heavy road transportation and the road transits of several gas turbine and gas turbine generator units, arriving at the disport over four shipments and weighing between 317 and 370 Te, for delivery to a power station undergoing major electrical generation system upgrade works.

The Antares scope involved pre-operational review and commenting on all required project and vessel documentation, including; method statements, lift plans, stability calculations, drawings, certification and formal risk assessments, followed by attendance and oversight during; vessel self-discharge heavy lift operations, post discharge SPMT shunting to a temporary port stooling location, transfer of the units to box girder frames for the subsequent 25 km road transit to the installation site and point of delivery set down.

These complex transportation and multiple handlIng operations, involving high value critical project components, required our office and attending surveyors to interface with all project stakeholders, both during the planning stages and throughout the operations, to effectively and proactively contribute to a safely executed and successful campaign.

Antares again received excellent performance feedback from our Principals to add to our track record. In addition to scoring maximum ratings on this scope on all our performance feedback metrics, the Principal made the following comment: "Thank you for everything! Was a pleasure working with you".

We remain ready to assist with all project cargo survey scopes. Please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Posted: 15th April 2025

BARGE HANDLING & MARINE OPERATIONAL SUPPORT - PORTS, MARSHALLING & FABRICATION YARDS

Antares provides numerous support functions related to port safe handling of cargo barges used for the transportation of project materials and structures. We have attended facilities throughout Britain, Ireland and continental Europe on behalf of barge charterers and project principal contractors to ensure that all of the marine activities required for barge handling are performed in a safe and cost effective manner.

In our experience, focus on the safe handling and appropriate care and custody of cargo barges during port stays at fabrication & marshalling yards tends to be somewhat overlooked at times. Antares will ensure that the correct level of surveillance is provided and all barge safekeeping activities are fully risk assessed, appropriately documented and safely executed.

We also provide Barge Towing Master services as codified in the MCA & MAIB's Guide to Good Practice on Port Marine Operations and captured in Competent Harbour Authorities (CHA) Marine Safety Management Systems (Port & Marine Facilities Safety Code 2025) for the planning and safe execution of non-standard towing operations and where designating a Towing Master with overall responsibility for the operations and safety of the Towed Vessel or Object is a requirement.

Antares was recently retained to support a Client to manage the barge handling activities required for the loadout of OWF jacket foundations from a fabrication yard. Our scope included the production of CHA/Pilot approved procedures and passage plans for unladen barge arrival and laden barge departure and performing the required risk assessments for all activities such as safe barge personnel access and egress to/from the barges in open water, mooring/unmooring operations and connection/disconnection of assist tugs and main tow tugs. Our nominated Towing Masters organised, chaired & minuted barge movement planning meetings involving all stakeholders; Harbour Master, Pilots, Tug Masters, Line Handling personnel and port facility representatives to ensure that all statutory and operational requirements were satisfied and the planned operational steps were agreed and clearly understood by all parties.

We would be pleased to discuss your requirements for these services with you.