deugro Ships Slug Catcher from Oman to UAE (video)

Fierce winds, sandstorms and roaming camels were just some of the challenges deugro faced during the transport of a massive 254-ton well fluid slug catcher from Oman to the UAE.

The project, carried out alongside deugro’s sister company dteq Transport Engineering Solutions (dteq), entailed the delivery of the 28-meter-long, 7-meter-high component from Nizwa in northern Oman to the Port of Duqm, then shipment to Mina Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi.

The slug catcher was urgently needed for an oil and gas project in Abu Dhabi.

Prior to the move, deugro had arranged a route survey, detailed transport, stability, lashing and lifting plans, and regular technical meetings with the client and dteq. To avoid costly and protracted route and civil work, the project team selected Duqm as the best departure point from Oman, despite the pick-up location’s proximity to the Port of Sohar.

“The biggest challenge was the pre-carriage from the cargo pick-up location in the Nizwa Industrial Estate to the Port of Duqm,” said Deepak Fernandes, transport engineer for dteq. “Due to the cargo’s dimensions and weight, the identification of the best-suited route and any potential obstacles such as low bridges, narrow roads, road crossings and overhead signboards was vital to ensure safe and on-time delivery.”

At Nizwa, the slug catcher was loaded on a multi-axle trailer and transported some 700 kilometers to Duqm, a journey that took five days. Along the route, the project team faced high wind speeds, sandstorms and the presence of wild animals that called for “great caution” to ensure the safety of the workers and cargo.

At Duqm, the component was loaded with “centimeter-precision” by the heavy-lift vessel’s onboard cranes, then stowed and securely lashed in accordance with method statements prepared by dteq before its onward journey through the Gulf of Oman to Abu Dhabi.


Watch a video of the slug catcher move:



deugro is an exhibitor at Breakbulk Middle East. Next year’s event is happening on 10-11 February at the Dubai World Center, UAE.