J M Baxi Completes Complex Load-in Operation at Krishnapatnam Port Amid Adverse Weather

The J M Baxi Group successfully executed the load-in of a 1,061-ton bridge module for McDermott Asia Pacific’s ONGC KG-DWN-98/2 project at Krishnapatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh, despite challenging weather conditions.

In an official statement, the company detailed that the bridge, initially loaded at Rohini Yard near Raigad on April 10, 2024, was destined for installation in the KG Basin as part of the 98/2 project. However, adverse weather forced a postponement of the installation to December 2024, necessitating the temporary relocation of the bridge on land.

The delay led J M Baxi Heavy to reassess the feasibility of the load-in, particularly since the primary loading structures used for load distribution, load-in, and stowage were no longer available due to the monsoon season.

To overcome these challenges, J M Baxi Heavy began engineering modifications a month in advance, considering the adverse weather. The team also re-engineered the load-out steel structures within a tight timeline to ensure a smooth operation.

Various locations, including Krishnapatnam Port, Vizag Port, Hindustan Shipyard Jetty (Vizag), and Rohini Yard, were evaluated for the load-in operation. After assessing costs and timelines, Krishnapatnam Port was chosen as the optimal location.

The engineering team sourced suitable steel accessories from existing inventory to avoid the need for costly and time-consuming new fabrications. Following the engineering study, the team visited Krishnapatnam Port to assess feasibility and prepare for the operation. The bridge module was successfully stowed at the 1J Container Terminal Yard, with protective plates deployed along the route to safeguard the port infrastructure.

This operation marked the first-ever stern-on load-in at Krishnapatnam Port, setting a precedent for future challenging logistics operations.