Port Hedland Tug Harbour Pontoon - Australia
ESC Steel Structures alongside a partner in Australia constructed 2 new tug harbour pontoons between 31 metres to 44 metres in length. The scope of work also included gangway platforms.
An EPC contract worth nearly US$100 million for a new tug harbour at Hunt point, Port Hedland in Australia was awarded in July 2015. Another scope of work related was for the upgrade to the exiting tug harbour at Nelson point. A fleet of escort-capable tug boats were to be accommodated which would operate within the inner harbour and Port Hedland Channel. This fleet would be intended to greatly reduce the risks of channel blockage and vessel grounding.
ESC Steel Structures alongside its Australian partner were awarded the scope of work for the fabrication of 4 large pontoons and 4 gangways.
The size of each pontoon was between 33 and 52 metres in length and it was fabricated in 2 halves initially inside. Only at the last stage were the 2 halves joined.
ESC also fabricated and/or fitted other components such as: removable handrails, cathodic protection anodes and bollards.
The pontoons, gangways and other components successfully arrived in Australia in November 2016.
![tug harbour pontoon fabrication](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_9c52d80cc1104f90b5cb6cad0436d34b~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_84,y_206,w_769,h_935/fill/w_451,h_668,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_9c52d80cc1104f90b5cb6cad0436d34b~mv2.jpg)
Pontoon Fabrication
![Large and Heavy Fabricated Components](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_e20877cf7a7840abaded70cfdb701570~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_584,h_1040,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_e20877cf7a7840abaded70cfdb701570~mv2.jpg)
![Pontoon Fabrication Underway 1](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_4c0c1dc9e9ac46d98007c098b6b99440~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_4c0c1dc9e9ac46d98007c098b6b99440~mv2.jpg)
![Pontoon fabrication underway](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_5932739457944a98a078b88f00612b07~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_584,h_1040,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_5932739457944a98a078b88f00612b07~mv2.jpg)
![Completed Pontoon 1](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_197c120b90da4b61b1654f80b7e9d006~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_197c120b90da4b61b1654f80b7e9d006~mv2.jpg)
![Completed Pontoon](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_63f7b59c9a4242b6a79578543f5d87cd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_63f7b59c9a4242b6a79578543f5d87cd~mv2.jpg)
![A small clearance required careful handling and lifting of the pontoons into position without damage](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_3b2de2a872da4798b4378057580c606a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_3b2de2a872da4798b4378057580c606a~mv2.jpg)
![Tug Harbour Pontoon Australia ready to be shipped](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_b4dc4bd6f63844d29aca90de73a80bbf~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_853,h_1280,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_b4dc4bd6f63844d29aca90de73a80bbf~mv2.jpg)
![Loading of the Pontoons happened well into the night](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_152e2ad60b5d43a4aaf204993627bc05~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_152e2ad60b5d43a4aaf204993627bc05~mv2.jpg)
![The pontoons were lifted with 2 cranes were lifted at the fabrication facility using 2 cranes](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_02a2a131febd42fdbdb31bfabf76ae4c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_02a2a131febd42fdbdb31bfabf76ae4c~mv2.jpg)
![Loading of the 52 metre length pontoon](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_e8e4a85df53d485ea519328fd477f59b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_e8e4a85df53d485ea519328fd477f59b~mv2.jpg)
![Gangways, 33 metre pontoons and other components secured](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_a533d9648b424f6086c545e27590c123~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_853,h_1280,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_a533d9648b424f6086c545e27590c123~mv2.jpg)
![Loading of the 52 metre length pontoon on to the vessel](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_cab57f41a93c44dab5128cdd8a716c1f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_cab57f41a93c44dab5128cdd8a716c1f~mv2.jpg)
Gangway Fabrication
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Other Components
![Horn Bollards](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_fc21b5eeb8ee4059bde4ca31e1f5a35a~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_445,h_676,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_fc21b5eeb8ee4059bde4ca31e1f5a35a~mv2.png)
![Full set of components labelled and safely secured](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_83855c3b956f48d58856e588c7469318~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_83855c3b956f48d58856e588c7469318~mv2.jpg)
![Handrails and Walkways with Anti Slip Grating](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_d93cdac3219c4d2590af91a45161722d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_d93cdac3219c4d2590af91a45161722d~mv2.jpg)
![Mating Flange Sections](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_877343956b8c4e099a02d32645fca72e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_877343956b8c4e099a02d32645fca72e~mv2.jpg)
![Custom size Hydraulic Cylinders and other accessories](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_f87d733964134a3391e38e45b40dd66c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_f87d733964134a3391e38e45b40dd66c~mv2.jpg)
![Pontoon fabrication](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18ec40_2d35a9ce285449cc9257de45109d056f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_584,h_1040,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/18ec40_2d35a9ce285449cc9257de45109d056f~mv2.jpg)