Supenaam Stelling woes continue

Jul 03, 2012 News

….delivered ‘Link Bridge Ramp’ unable to attach

The Supenaam Stelling, which is still to be completed to accommodate the Chinese Roll On/Roll Off ferries, has yet again been affected by another hurdle.
The ‘Link Bridge Ramp’ which has been erected to a pontoon foundation has been taken over to the stelling, but is yet to be attached.
BK International Incorporated undertook the works at the Supenaam Stelling and when contacted yesterday, Managing Director Brian Tiwarie said that he was unaware of any problems. He was also unaware when the ‘Link Bridge Ramp’ is to be attached.
The Link Bridge Ramp was attached to a temporary support beam at the end which was to be affixed to the Supenaam Stelling when it sank at Parika several days ago.

Design illustrations for the Supenaam Stelling and Link Bridge Ramp

That pontoon was simply to hold the ramp in place until it was transported to the Supenaam Stelling, where the end that was being supported by the pontoon would have been removed and physically attached.
This publication had reported that it was moored alongside the Parika facility when the tide receded. This caused the temporary support pontoon to become lodged under a concrete column. When the tide again rose, the stuck pontoon became even more tightly lodged.
It continued to come under escalating pressure before it finally submerged.
This publication understands also that the inlets (man-holes) on the pontoon, which are normally sealed air-tight, were also not secured properly, causing water to seep into the iron structure and lending to problems.
The pontoon has since been salvaged and is now moored safely at the Supenaam facility, but is yet to be attached.
This publication understands that when the team attempted to affix the ‘Link Bridge Ramp” to the Supenaam stelling this could not be completed, as a problem was discovered with the ‘abutment’ area of the facility.