Big crane delivery

Broome Port Authority welcomed the arrival of a new 250- tonne mobile crane last week — the first to be permanently stationed in Broome to cater for the anticipated surge in offshore oil and gas operations over the next decade.

The new $1.8 million asset arrived in Broome last Monday and finally touched base on the wharf after a delicate and arduous operation.

BPA operations manager Rob Wilkinson said the crane was purchased in Germany and shipped from its Terex factory to Fremantle, and from Fremantle to Broome using the Jebsens Coastal Shipping service.

“We chose the shipping operation, one, because it’s our business moving things on and off ships and two, because it was more cost effective,” he said.

“This is the first 250-tonne crane to be permanently in Broome and we bought it to support the offshore oil and gas industry at least over the next 10 years.”

A team of operators, including two workers manning cranes to simultaneously lift the mechanism from the hold of the vessel, a supervisor, stevedores and a rigging supervisor from local crane operator Mammoet, ensured swift and safe delivery of the crane on to the wharf.

Mr Wilkinson said the delivery of the new crane signalled a milestone for BPA.

“We are on an upswing now in terms of full usage, a lot of that is driven by the offshore oil and gas industry in support of the Browse Basin works and I think we’re going to get busier over the next few years,” he said.

“It’s extremely important, it provides jobs. Obviously for the port we’ve expanded our workforce by 30 per cent over the last two years and that has a flow-on effect on other businesses.”

Broome Port Authority chief executive Vic Justice said the addition of the crane would boost support for offshore oil and gas operations.

“Having the crane here is really good because it provides us with the capability to lift the heaviest foreseeable loading going from the shore into the Browse Basin,” he said.

“Capability is very important to different companies that have cargo coming in with heavier loads.”