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Vanuatu Inter-Island
Project
Vanuatu Inter-Island Shipping Project (VISSP)
Project type
Marine Geotech Investigations
Date
2019/2020
Location
Vanuatu Outer Islands
Client
Tonkin & Taylor
Highlight
270km - Distance between boreholes
Summary
The Vanuatu Inter-island Shipping Project (VISSP) was designed to strengthen inter-island connectivity through the construction of new island wharf infrastructure. Following site investigations, design and tendering, a contract was signed in August 2015 between the Government of Vanuatu (GoV) and Hawkins Infrastructure Ltd. (HIL) to construct and repair seven wharves, including a piled landing ramp at Litzlitz Wharf in Vanuatu.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) in New Zealand required an additional geotechnical investigation to assist with the assessment and design of repair works at Litzlitz Wharf, South Paray, Port Simonsen and Port Sandwich in Vanuatu.
Webster Drilling & Exploration was subsequently contracted by BECA NZ Ltd to carry out an extensive marine and onshore geotechnical investigation throughout the Vanuatu island chain.
Project requirements
The wharf locations were:
Simonsen Wharf in Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo
Port Sandwich Wharf, located on Malekula Island
South Paray Wharf in Port Vila
Litzlitz Wharf, located on Malekula Island
A total of 18 geotechnical boreholes were required, with six being shallow marine locations (<25 m depth). Grouted PVC installations were required in several boreholes to facilitate geophysical logging, with one such installation temporarily suspended and subsequently logged from a floating drill platform.
The cost of mobilising a suitable jack-up platform to operate in the required water depths was prohibitive. Owing to the locations being spread across three islands and more than 270 km apart, Webster Drilling contracted a local vessel of opportunity—a landing barge—to transport the rig and serve as a floating drilling platform.
Delivery
Due to Webster Drilling’s extensive fleet of equipment in the South Pacific, we were able to mobilise for our client at reasonably short notice, with our marine geotechnical equipment already available in Port Vila. Job-specific equipment and consumables were mobilised from New Zealand within weeks.
Our ability to adapt our rigs and equipment to drill from local vessels of opportunity means Webster Drilling can mobilise quickly and gather our clients’ data efficiently and cost-effectively anywhere in the world.
Our experienced personnel successfully completed this difficult, remote marine project on schedule and within budget.
