All hands on deck

The Pluto Train 1 Modifications team has successfully and safely completed the first deck lift at the Laem Chabang assembly yard in Thailand, marking a key achievement in preparing Pluto Train 1 to process gas from the Scarborough Energy Project.

As part of the Pluto Train 1 modifications project, the team is fabricating three modules. The deck is part of the largest module that will integrate with the existing Pluto plant.

The deck lift activity meant lifting an impressive 340 tonnes and will form part of an approximately 4,600 tonne module when completed.

The lift is an important activity that now enables the team to connect the two decks and progress with interconnecting activities, marking a critical step in the module yard fabrication delivery.

Fabrication Manager Martin Richards notes that the milestone is only the first of many major milestones to come.

"There was a lot of planning and work that went into the lift, made possible through extensive collaboration and coordination among various teams, including Health and Safety, Engineering, Construction, Lifting and external contractors, spanning across London, Australia and Thailand," says Martin.

“In all, 10 deck lifts will be required in the yard over three modules.”

Safety was a top priority throughout the operation, with the team surpassing the first million hours with no recordables.

The team conducted thorough readiness pre-checks to ensure that priority spools were installed on the below deck, equipment was properly placed, and grating, handrails and painting were completed to the highest standards.

“This meticulous preparation ensured that the work was done right the first time, with safety protocols strictly adhered to at every stage,” notes Project Completions Engineer Prateek Kapur.

To support this critical activity, the project mobilised two cranes with a lifting capacity of 600 and 1000 tonnes, demonstrating the scale and complexity of the operation. Additionally, the team carefully managed weather considerations to ensure the lift was executed safely.

“While the site team coordinated the activity, this achievement would not have been possible without our technical subject matter experts who provided support towards essential engineering procedures and lifting documentation,” explains Engineering Lead Nirmal Pullikundram.

Building on this, Martin credits the success of the first lift to the hard work, collaboration and shared safety focus of everyone involved.

“Thanks are due to all individuals for their dedication, teamwork and commitment to safety as we continue to build on this success as we move forward with the remaining deck lifts,” says Martin. “The Thailand module yard team have a big year ahead to safely deliver fabrication of the modules for the Pluto Train 1 Modifications project, a critical part of the Scarborough Energy Project.”