BigLift Completes 10-Voyage REEF Heavy-Lift Campaign

By Simon West

BigLift Shipping has completed 10 project voyages supporting the Ridley Island Energy Export Facility (REEF) at the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia, Canada.

The operation began in June 2024 with the transport of steel structures, marine piles and specialized equipment using the Happy Dragon, one of four multipurpose vessels deployed for the project.

This phase included complex logistics such as sorting hundreds of piles of varying dimensions and adjusting sailing schedules to meet REEF’s delivery and installation requirements. Close coordination with project co-developer AltaGas enabled efficient cargo sequencing and discharge operations, said BigLift, a member of the Spliethoff Group.

The company also transported and installed 13 trestle modules and a transition platform forming part of the jetty and liquids export infrastructure for the project. The first two trestle modules were delivered by the Pottersgracht, while the remaining modules and platform were transported and installed by the company’s Happy S-type vessels.

BigLift said its engineering team optimized cargo configurations for each voyage and developed a reusable temporary mooring system that allowed vessels to be positioned safely during offshore installation work. This system improved operational flexibility while reducing installation costs, it added.

“The successful completion of all 10 voyages demonstrates BigLift’s ability to combine heavy-lift expertise, engineering and operational flexibility to deliver complex offshore logistics solutions,” the company said. “BigLift Shipping is proud to have supported the successful execution of the REEF project through close collaboration, technical expertise and a shared commitment to project success.”

The Spliethoff Group is an exhibitor at Breakbulk Europe.

Photo: MV Pottersgracht handles modules for REEF. Credit: BigLift