The approximately 120,000 pipe sections to be handled by NorSea have an average weight of around 25 tonnes each after concrete weight coating by EUPEC. NorSea Group has been subcontracted by EUPEC for transportation of the coated pipes from Mukran, Germany to Karlskrona & Slite (Gotland), Sweden and from Kotka, Finland to Hanko, Finland. NorSea has also been subcontracted for the loading, offloading, and interim storage of the pipe sections at these three temporary storage sites before they are shipped out by supply boat to the barge that lays the pipe sections on the Baltic Sea bed.
Svante Alverönn, Sales Manager for Industrial Business, Northern Europe at Cargotec:
“The collaboration between the companies started in 1986 with the purchase of NorSea’s first Kalmar forklift truck. Building on a close co-operation in developing a technical solution, our proven service availability and excellent co-operation over the years, we received an order for three Kalmar reachstackers and two Kalmar terminal tractors at the beginning of 2009, which were delivered in June. Today we are proud to announce that our co-operation continues with an agreement with NorSea to supply additional seven reach stackers and two terminal tractors for this large gas pipeline project.”
Cargotec is known for its ability to customize its equipment to provide special lifting solutions for applications beyond its traditional marketplace. The reachstackers are equipped with a special attachment for handling pipes. Usually pipe handling solutions with reachstackers consist of a slave attachment connected to the spreader. Cargotec’s solution is a fully integrated attachment.
Mikael Persson, Director, Kalmar Reachstackers at Cargotec:
“We were able to offer a complete solution by working in close cooperation with the customer in a technology driven process. This integrated attachment is specially adapted for pipe handling will increase reliability and safety.”
NorSea Group AS is a wholly privately-owned company that was founded in 1965. It is a leading supplier of base services and integrated logistics systems to the Norwegian oil and gas industry. The company’s annual turnover is approx NOK 1.5 billion. The Group has its headquarters in Tananger, outside Stavanger, and has proprietary interests in 8 supply bases along the Norwegian coast.
EUPEC is one of the world’s leading companies for providing multi-layer anti-corrosion and thermal insulation coating systems for pipes, weld seams and fittings. EUPEC has been providing reliable solutions to protect steel pipelines for more than 40 years, both for offshore and onshore applications. The company is also an internationally recognised service provider for concrete weight coating, manufacturing pipe-in-pipe systems, providing cathodic protection, remote monitoring services for pipelines and other services in the pipeline sector. EUPEC is certified in line with the ISO 9001, 14001, OHSAS 18001 and Qualicert standards.
Nord Stream AG is an international joint venture established for the planning, construction, and subsequent operation of a new pipeline across the Baltic Sea. OAO Gazprom holds a 51 per cent stake in the joint venture. BASF/Wintershall AG and E.ON Ruhrgas hold 20 per cent each, and N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie has a 9 per cent stake.
