JSI Alliance has completed heavy-lift installation work for the expansion of a liquid cargo berth at Dahej, India, supporting Afcons Infrastructure Limited‘s construction project for Gujarat Chemical Port Ltd. (GCPL).
The contract covered the transport and installation of eight jackets and 15 berthing dolphins weighing between 500 and 600 t. The structures were installed at an outreach of 10 m using the heavy-lift vessel Jumbo Javelin.
The work was carried out under demanding marine conditions. The project site experiences tidal variations of up to 10 m and currents of up to 5 kn, while the sandy seabed limited the use of conventional mooring methods. Installation also proceeded without interrupting operations at two active berths, creating additional space and mooring constraints.
Mobilization of Jumbo Javelin began on 3 November and continued for 15 days. During this period, the vessel was fitted with a flyjib to carry out the required lifting operations.
For the installation campaign, the vessel was equipped with an eight-point mooring system designed for the site’s tidal and seabed conditions. The arrangement included 17 t anchors and 64 mm and 52 mm mooring lines, each with an approximate minimum breaking load of 300 t. Eight custom-built 250 t winches were installed to provide redundancy through backup mooring wires.
Additional steel reinforcement was added to the vessel to withstand the loads generated during lifting operations. Anchor handling support vessels installed the mooring spread during four-hour tidal windows when current speeds were at their lowest. Once connected, Jumbo Javelin remained on station for several days at a time, allowing installation work to continue without disrupting berth operations.
The first loadout took place at Dighi Port on 3 December. Jumbo Javelin completed six voyages during the project. The final structure was installed on 14 March before the vessel returned to Dighi Port for demobilization, which was completed in seven and a half days. The vessel then sailed to Singapore to return equipment to suppliers. Discharge was completed in two days, and the project concluded on 6 April.
According to JSI Alliance, the project was carried out in cooperation with Afcons Infrastructure Limited. The company also acknowledged the support provided by Franklin Offshore International, Mooreast Asia and Seacontractors during the execution of the work.
