On August 9th the AAL Dampier delivered a giant Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) module to one of the world’s largest primary lead smelting facilities, Port Pirie – located in Southern Australia and operated by Nyrstar an integrated mining and metals processing business. The 41m long and 21m high module weighed 530mt and is the largest component to be shipped for Pirie’s ongoing Redevelopment Project which will convert the aged smelter into a modern multi metals processing and recovery facility. AAL’s safe ocean transport of this module was part of a wider end-to-end logistics operation managed by the Industrial Projects division of international supply chain operator, GEODIS.
The massive ESP unit was shipped from the Yanda Module Yard in Jiangsu China and was lifted and loaded using the significant 700mt combined lifting capacity of AAL’s highly manoeuvrable 19,000dwt S-Class vessel and the combined efforts of its in-house engineering and operations teams.
Marc Willim, General Manager of AAL’s Tramp & Projects Division, explained, ‘Our engineers spent weeks pouring over lift, stowage and discharge plans, to ensure safe and timely delivery. The result is a milestone for all parties involved. For AAL it reinforces our reputation as a trusted heavy lift specialist, with the right tonnage and expertise to meet any multipurpose shipping demands. For Geodis, it marks another successful stage in their seamless execution of this project and Nyrstar takes delivery of a component that will significantly improve the environmental performance of its site as part of the delivery of the Redevelopment Project.’
Maureen Brown, General Manager AU/NZ, Industrial Projects, GEODIS added, ‘The success of the project to date is due to the dedicated team based in Brisbane, Adelaide and Shanghai, and has brought a number of benefits to Nyrstar.’
The ESP unit is part of an innovative Off Gas System that will draw Sulphur Dioxide rich gas and fumes generated from the Top Submerged Furnace (TSL) and ‘electrostatically’ charge them, removing solid particles and enabling ‘clean gas’ to continue into the Acid Plant process. The system will have a significant positive impact on the environmental performance of Pirie’s operations which will lead to improved community health.
