LONDON: A multimillion dollar investment that will allow vessels up to 120 metres long to refuel in Port Adelaide is set to be announced today. BP and Flinders Ports are to invest close to $8 million in infrastructure to establish a state-of-the-art fuel bunkering facility in Port Adelaide’s Inner Harbour. The new bunkering operation, which will be connected directly via pipelines from the nearby Largs North Terminal, will support the day-to-day operations of BP’s planned Great Australian Bight program.
It will enable the safe, efficient and simultaneous refuelling of vessels and receipt of fuel into the terminal said BP’s chief operating officer, Fuels AsPac and Air, Andy Holmes. “BP is proud to lead the development and execution of a unique, custom-built fuel bunkering system. This is highly valuable infrastructure for SA and will exist well beyond the life of BP’s exploration drilling program in the Great Australian Bight.”
Flinders Ports will work with local contractors including Maritime Constructions to fully rebuild and reinforce the existing berth structure at the facility and manage day-to-day berth operations. “New contracts are scarce so the upgrade of this berth is an exciting development and provides a welcome boost for local suppliers and business confidence,” said Stewart Lammin, general manager, Flinders Ports. “There is potential for several new vessel calls into Port Adelaide each week and the positive flow-on benefits for the economy are much needed.” More than 20 local jobs are being generated to support various stages of the project from engineering and pipeline design to the berth upgrade.
Two new underground pipelines, each more than 1 kilometre long, have already been installed from Largs North terminal to the existing berth with a platform to supply vessel flow rate of 2,400 litres per minute. Until now, vessels requiring fuel in Port Adelaide’s Inner Harbour were supplied by fuel truck.
The bunkering facilities at Largs North include new dedicated filling pumps with full automation, metering skid and bunker hoses and are expected to be completed later this year. Flinders Ports operate seven ports in SA at Port Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Thevenard, Port Giles, Wallaroo and Klein Point.
