Press release - In the middle of July, something incredibly extraordinary took place in the Arabian Gulf, off the coast of Kuwait. The Emergency Sea Outfall - one of the world’s largest and longest- on the Umm Al Hayman wastewater treatment works moved closer to completion with the safe recovery of Emma - the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) responsible for tunnelling by pipejacking 1973m of pipe to form part of Kuwait’s major Wastewater Project.
The Al Hassanain and Joseph Gallagher Joint Venture was awarded this prestigious contract worth £46m in October 2019 by WTE Wassertechnik GmbH. The partnership has since then gone from strength to strength to complete the project through the period of the Covid Pandemic and beyond…
The recovery of the Herrenknecht TBM AVN2200AB was a complex operation, requiring precise planning and execution. The team did not disappoint given challenging weather conditions, significant winds up to 20km p/h coupled with soaring temperatures of up to 49 degrees out at sea. With a length of 14m, weighing 140t at a size of 2200/2640 the TBM was located 10m under the seabed. The sand surrounding the TBM was carefully excavated with airlifts and then the TBM was raised using a combination of air bags and a crane. It was then towed 40km and then eventually lifted out of the sea using a 350t crawler crane onto the KIPIC jetty located near the AL Zour Power Station. All this required an exceptionally talented team to deliver such a complex job so meticulously. The team itself constituted of 16 nationalities, many of those did not speak English but still understood what was required of them and always delivered with great care and accuracy.
Steve Harvey, CEO of Joseph Gallagher Limited said: "A superb recovery completed by an exceptional multinational team of which we are very proud. Utilising state of the art pipejacking equipment and marine recovery led by JGL and JV partners Al Hassanain, combining the talents of both companies resulting in one fantastic delivery team. The final leg of the project will now involve the installation of a 309m long diffuser beneath the Arabian Gulf. Thanks to everyone who played their part so very well."
Josie Gallagher, Chairman of The Joseph Gallagher Group said: “The successful recovery of the TBM was a wonderful effort from all involved and is testament to the exemplary teamwork and skill that has characterised the entire project. A huge thanks to all the project team, both from JGL and our JV partners Al Hassanain - a truly outstanding partnership and achievement.”
Jaafar H. Jan, Executive Director of Al Hassanain Marine Contracting Group announced: “It was our honour to work with the Project Team MPW, WTE and with our professional partner M/S Joseph Gallagher, I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all. The recovery of 14m length, 140t TBM at a depth of 10 metres below the seabed level was a challenging task. However, Al Hassanain exercised its capabilities and vast experiences in dealing with such critical marine operations, and finally our success to recover the TBM safely added one more success and new record to our previous records in our company’s profile.
The TBM has now completed the longest sea outfall in the Middle East using modern pipe jacking methodology (almost 2km) and forms part of the mega project - Umm Al Hayman WWTP.
The project has also celebrated some significant milestones since it commenced, including the creation of two of the largest and longest tunnels in Kuwait (double curved 2.4m diameter 822m long tunnel and 1 in 10 downward 768m long tunnel). For further information on Joseph Gallagher please visit their website https://www.josephgallagher.co.uk/ .32/22.
