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Transporting of remaining BVIEC generators on hold

- as hauler encounters mechanical problems
The hauler being used to transport the generators has encountered a mechanical problem, which means the moving of the 2 remaining engines will no longer take place as scheduled. Photo: Photo: Team of Reporters
The first generator was transported safely to Pockwood Pond between Sunday night and Monday morning, although the operation was delayed for more than three hours. Photo: Mahde Said/Facebook
The first generator was transported safely to Pockwood Pond between Sunday night and Monday morning, although the operation was delayed for more than three hours. Photo: Mahde Said/Facebook
General Manager of BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC), Leroy A. E. Abraham. Photo: File
General Manager of BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC), Leroy A. E. Abraham. Photo: File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The transporting of the remaining two Wartsila generators for the BVI Electricity Corporation’s (BVIEC) Phase V Power Development Project will be delayed due to a mechanical problem with the transporting hauler.

BVIEC’s General Manager Leroy A. E. Abraham confirmed that plans to move the two 160 ton Wartsila generators from Port Purcell to their Pockwood Pond location have been halted due to the rupturing of a hydraulic hose on the hauler.

Speaking to this news site on Tuesday August 23, 2016, Mr Abraham said a hose, which is part of the hauler transporting the generators, was ruptured on the way back to Port Purcell for preparation for the second generator’s move.

He informed that efforts have begun to find a replacement hose as far as Germany where it was manufactured and Puerto Rico.

“So everything in terms of transporting the engines has been put on hold naturally but we are trying to explore other opportunities.”

Asked for a timeframe, Abraham said he could not state.

“Right now we are playing a waiting game with the transportation company.”

No alternatives on island

The General Manager also stated that BVIEC is not responsible for any additional costs associated with the transportation of the three generators since a company was contracted to undertake the entire project.

Meantime, Abraham shot down suggestions of utilising a local heavy equipment to do the job.

“No it cannot be done; based on the weight of the equipment we don’t even have a crane on the island,” he noted.

The BVIEC boss had previously explained that the generators could not have been offloaded at Pockwood Pond due to the absence of a deep water harbour and adequate docking facilities.

The first generator was transported safely to Pockwood Pond between Sunday night and Monday morning, although the operation was delayed for more than three hours.

The three new 8 Megawatt Wartsila generators are for the BVIEC’s Phase V Power Development Project, which in a previous interview on August 19, 2016, Abraham said signified the light at the end the tunnel with regards to electrical issues in the territory.

He had projected that by the end of January (2017), that project would be finished and BVIEC’s generating capacity would have significantly increased.

24 Responses to “Transporting of remaining BVIEC generators on hold”

  • chinese product with a german sticker (23/08/2016, 16:12) Like (22) Dislike (11) Reply
    Will we ever get anything right?
  • HAHA (23/08/2016, 16:22) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    oh right.. hmm
  • Dark Clouds (23/08/2016, 16:37) Like (21) Dislike (12) Reply
    NDP fault.
  • wize up (23/08/2016, 16:44) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    At least the territory not paying out of pocket for this problem BUT the service provider should be made to pay for failure to deliver as contracted....
    • TO WIZE UP (23/08/2016, 16:54) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      with inconvenience to us once again. Stay tune.
    • Really??!! (24/08/2016, 09:32) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
      Jesus Christ!! A damn hydraulic hose burst!! Who knew that was going to happen? The hauler can't work without it (as they said they're trying to find one)!! What you want them to do put it on them back and carry it??!!
  • HMMM (23/08/2016, 17:04) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    old garbage equipment brought all the way europe...i am glad that the lights will be on all night tonight
  • belonger (23/08/2016, 18:01) Like (13) Dislike (4) Reply
    I'm baffled and wondering why the BVIEC didn't consider moving these huge things via a barge to Lockwood pond and off loading them @ the point Delta or Ashley place. Just wondering ppl.
    • to belonger (23/08/2016, 19:52) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      Good, Good Point! Who did the logistical planning?
      • wize up (24/08/2016, 09:45) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
        @ to belonger: when you find out who did that logistical planning please share the info because some of know in 2016 things should be done more efficiently that in 1960.....I remember when the fuel trucks made frequent daily trips to the power station now the fuel vessel simply anchor at pockwood pond: the main power station is at pockwood pond logistics will dictate put the proper infurstructure in place....I can see going through this same $&it in 20 years
    • Hold it. (24/08/2016, 11:09) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
      You want the barge to sink. That is worse. The barge can't carry that type of weight. It is a special boat brought them here.
    • The Visitor (24/08/2016, 19:58) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      If you had seen the ship that offloaded these monsters you wouldn'y have asked. These devices are huge. While you might unload a backhoe or dozer there there is no landing facility at Pockwood Pond capable of handling these generators.
    • to belonger (25/08/2016, 09:46) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      I really believe you're a belonger with no brain, do you not see the distance the fuel barges that anchor in Pockwood pond are from the land? Do you not see the size difference in the boat that brought the generators to the fuel tankers? For a boat of that capacity the water would have to be dredged, piles would have to be driven into sea bed, wait for those to settle, a dock be built at the expense of OUR tax money then the boat can dock, then the land in that area would've had to be flatten to avoid any bumps while transporting the Generators. Then the sameeeeee hydraulic flat bed would be needed as the generators are freaking heavy!! So please think about which one was easier.
  • zoe (23/08/2016, 18:13) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank god i will not be late for work in the morning
  • Roads (23/08/2016, 18:48) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'm not surprised to hear this. The engineering of our roads are horrible. This moving equipment is hightech and unmanned. I counted at least 120 wheels all of which can function individually. I'm no physics expert but most likely the each have to level the equipment based on the slants and imbalance of the road. Just maneuvering it over the concrete dividers on the carriageway so it can maneuver the traffic lights was a task by itself. As much as the experts are skilled on each detail of moving the generator, I'm reminded that BVI is a university and jives they never imagined will show up, no matter how the study the move in advance
  • AWD (23/08/2016, 19:57) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yup, our roads are really that bad...........Mark. Imagine what it does to my little ride.
  • Really? (23/08/2016, 21:21) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Proper planning prevent poor performance. Will the other two units sit somewhere for going on 10 years like the waste incinerator?
  • ----------------- (23/08/2016, 21:31) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Still trying to figure out what is hard to understand.
  • Boo (24/08/2016, 07:04) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    now they going spoil my weekend with this mess
  • voter (24/08/2016, 07:13) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Poor planning leads to piss poor performance
    • unpredictable (24/08/2016, 09:31) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      to voter, there are stuff that no one can predict. With the 100 back-up plans this team had under the circumstances. the one that they didn't have is what went wrong. Yes they have hydraulics, but this hauler is not a backhoe. They could not ship an entire industrial plant to BVI.
  • Hydraulic Hose (24/08/2016, 11:13) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Order three hydraulic hoses, just in case, please. I thought somebody was driving that machine. Look wuk for me, beel on the road without man.


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