Lidiar Group Helps Manage Critical Marine Assets
In a move aimed at enhancing the operational transparency and efficiency of the Abbot Point Coal Terminal (APCT), North Queensland Export Terminal (NQXT) enlisted the services of Lidiar Group to conduct a comprehensive Condition Based Assessment (CBA). This report serves as an in-depth update on work previously undertaken by Advisian, reflecting a similar but more detailed approach. The increased detail is due to the evolution of the data set obtained during the assignment, building on the prior work done by Advisian.
Key Project Information
Location - North Queensland
Sector - Marine Infrastructure
Services - Project Management, Delivery Strategy, Planning and Procurement Advisory Services, Options and Benefits Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Technical / Commercial Advisory and Engineering Services, Financial and Accounting Reporting Requirements, Data Analytics, Preventative Maintenance Reporting
Key Contact - Darren Cave
The specific activities conducted during this assessment included a thorough review of information developed and provided by GHD and DBCT, along with an evaluation of the rehabilitation objectives identified by GHD. Additionally, the pre-existing conditions and legislative restrictions established by GHD were reviewed, and the Domains were redefined by grouping the types of decommissioning, demolition, and rehabilitation required. The review also included an analysis of GHD's stakeholder consultation strategy and final land use plan, helping to establish the most appropriate methods for decommissioning, demolition, and rehabilitation for each Domain, while clearly defining the scope of work.
Other activities carried out during the assessment included developing first-principles estimates, conducting a site visit to validate assumptions, performing risk analysis and risk allocation for each Domain, and identifying variances between the approaches of GHD and Advisian. The team also compared GHD and Advisian estimates, independently modeled the digital terrain for deriving earthwork quantities, and identified monitoring and maintenance activities and their associated costs.
The positive assessment conducted by Lidiar Group underscores NQXT's commitment to maintaining operational excellence at APCT, ensuring the facility remains a dependable and efficient asset for the coal export industry. This dedication to safe, efficient, and sustainable operations instills confidence in all stakeholders and users of the facility. The facility's performance has not only met but often exceeded expectations, largely due to the implementation of appropriate preventative maintenance routines and an efficient throughput.
Most assets within the terminal were rated as 'Good' and 'Very Good,' emphasizing the terminal's overall health and reliability. A smaller number of assets were classified as 'Fair,' with expectations that these would return to at least 'Good' status, as maintenance, repair, and renewal practices were already in place. A minimal number of assets received a 'Poor' rating, primarily linked to the Chemical Dosing Plant. However, this rating is expected to improve to 'Good' once the plant becomes commissioned and operational.
The comprehensive assessment of assets by Lidiar Group, together with the investigations conducted by Advisian in 2018, demonstrates that any issues at the facility are promptly identified, investigated, and rectified according to standards. Although the overall condition of the facility is good, minor concerns will be monitored and further investigated to prevent any potential deterioration that could impact performance. Existing asset management systems, maintenance strategies, and business processes are considered adequate, with regular reviews ongoing to identify potential areas for improvement and updated reporting requirements.
Lidiar Group is confident that under the current operational management practices, the facility will continue to provide a high level of confidence to both NQXT and all its user groups and customers in the immediate future.