When the new Mangistau Oblast Boat Yard (MOBY) in Bautino, Kazakhstan ordered a Marine Travelift 600C mobile boat hoist for its marine repair operations, few were to appreciate the logistical challenges this particular placement would bring! However, Marine Travelift’s 50-years experience in dispatching its products globally came to the fore as preparations were made to send 24 open-topped containers to the final destination in Kazakhstan.
Paul Steeghs, General Manager at MOBY explains: “The consignment left Virginia, USA, seaborne for the Ukraine via Turkey; from there it was transported by freight train to Actau, approximately 140 kilometers south of Bautino; the final leg of the journey was to transport the containers by truck to MOBY – a journey time of some ten weeks!”
With the 600C safely delivered one could be forgiven for thinking, job done! However, because MOBY is in such a remote location, none of the specialized equipment needed for the assembly of the boat hoist was available, locally. Indeed, such is the geography of the country, a location 800 kilometers away is considered ‘nearby’. Nevertheless, tenacity paid off and soon cranes and hydraulic equipment were sourced and delivery coordinated to assist in the erection of the 600C.
Despite many frustrating delays in the boat yard’s construction, the Marine Travelift 600C was finally erected in April this year; and final testing and commissioning took place last week, much to the delight of all parties concerned – on both sides of the Atlantic!
MOBY is a joint venture between the managing partner Topaz Engineering, NMSC Kazmortransflot and Caspian Services. Its marine repair operation is planned to start in the middle of November from a three hectare plot that features 150 meters of quay wall, two 50 meter parallel finger piers as well as a fully equipped 2,400 m² workshop building.
This acquisition of a Marine Travelift 600C was a natural progression for Topaz Engineering. It had already experienced the quality design and operational flexibility of a Marine Travelift 200C, which commenced operations in Fujairah in May 2008.
(www.marinetravelift.com)
