Dampier Drilling & Blasting

Increasing capacity while protecting the environment of Port of Dampier

Our client
At the port of Dampier, in the remote North West of Western Australia, Hamersley Iron (part of Rio Tinto Group) operates a facility at Parker Point to load bulk carriers with iron ore for export. To increase the port's capacity, a rock intrusion needed to be removed from the access channel. The rock intrusion (approximately 25,000 m³) could not be removed by a cutter suction dredger or a backhoe dredger. Van Oord was awarded the contract to remove the rock intrusion.

Our work
Before drilling and blasting commenced, the overburden was to be removed by backhoe dredger Hippopotes. Subsequently drilling and blasting was performed of the 12,500 m² area. Self Elevating Platform BHD Supply was equipped with two drill towers for this purpose. After blasting, Hippopotes removed the material by loading it into split-hopper barges, which disposed of the material at the designated spoil grounds.

Our results
The work was done in the midst of a fully operational port, which required close co-operation between all parties involved to minimize delays on both sides. Van Oord also respected the standards set by a monitoring programme that protects the existing coral colonies and marine fauna (such as dolphins, whales, turtles and dugongs) in Dampier Port.