Job Reports > Vibro Hammers > Groote Eylandt

Groote Eylandt
600km east of Darwin
Barge wharf extension

NT contractor Transcon (Trans Australian Construction) recently completed the extension of a barge wharf on Groote Eylandt commissioned by BHP Billiton subsidiary GEMCo (Groote Eylandt Mining Company).

The wharf extension is 8 metres x 19 metres with a protective weather wall 15 metres long at 45 degrees from the NW corner to provide shelter for the resident tug during medium weather.

Sheet pile was a major construction material and Transcon drove over 90 LX25 sheets 11.8 metre in length plus 3 x 12 metre sheets 310 UC with minimal off-cut. Steelcom Pty Ltd supplied the sheet ex stock and hired the contractor a PTC standard frequency 30H1 piling hammer which allowed piling to be completed with a minimum of fuss.

The 30H1 vibrator is new to the Steelcom hire fleet. The crane mounted hammer weighs 4120kg and has vibratory power of 193kw. The unit comes with either an agriplex or duplex clamping head with jaw opening of between 208mm and 1800mm.

Once piling was completed the sheet was cut to level and the coffer dam filled with select rock. Whalers were installed inside with tie rods connecting to a dead man. Finally a concrete edge beam and covering slab was poured.

Groote Eylandt produces over 2 million tonnes of manganese each year, about 10 percent of the world's total production which is now exported to countries like Japan and the USA. The island lies about 40km off mainland Australia in the Gulf of Carpentaria, around 600km east of Darwin and has three main communities and several outstations.