Following a two month site closure as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and confirmation of a safe work environment, TAKRAF deployed a small group of supervisors and site management staff to site in order to restart construction and commissioning activities.
With the support of our client and after a 14-day quarantine, the group safely made it to site and resumed activities around the beginning of June 2020. These activities recommenced under strict HSE guidelines and in full accordance with directives, policies and procedures from the Russian government.
Following the successful cold recommissioning of all equipment necessary to reclaim, convey and load, and in consultation with the client, a decision to call the first vessel was made. In the last week of June, a 40,000 t live load vessel docked at the quay ready to accept material.
After the safe and successful loading of 36,000 tons, the vessel departed a few days later on 1 July. This departure marked an important project milestone for our client who was full of praise and appreciation of the efforts undertaken by our site-commissioning group.
Wolfgang Schilling, TAKRAF Germany Project Manager, had this to say upon the ships departure from the quay, “This important achievement only serves to bring us one-step closer towards final hand over of the complete project and entrench TAKRAF as a leading global provider of complex handling systems. Notwithstanding demanding site conditions, I am proud of our TAKRAF team for their commitment, effort and enthusiasm towards achieving this important first step safely and on time – proof of our commitment to getting the job done.”
Further information regarding TAKRAF’s range of material handling solutions can be viewed here.