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Decommissioned Oil Refinery Is 'Exported' from Wales to Pakistan

30th October 2019
Heavy-lift vessel, Maria berthed at Pembroke Dock on the Milford Haven waterway in south Wales, transported components of the former Murco oil refinery to Pakistan. AFLOAT adds the operation was somewhat similar to those in Ireland during 2004, when the disused Irish Fertiliser Industries (IFI) plant at Shelton Abbey in the Vale of Avoca, Co. Wicklow was dismantled. Large components of the plant that could not access Arklow Port were transported by road to Dublin Port from where heavy-lift vessel, Vega, exported parts for further re-use also in Pakistan in addition to China and Finland. Source: Journal of the Sea (Vol.1 No. 3 Winter 2004) a magazine published by the Maritime Institute of Ireland (National Maritime Museum, Dun Laoghaire). Heavy-lift vessel, Maria berthed at Pembroke Dock on the Milford Haven waterway in south Wales, transported components of the former Murco oil refinery to Pakistan. AFLOAT adds the operation was somewhat similar to those in Ireland during 2004, when the disused Irish Fertiliser Industries (IFI) plant at Shelton Abbey in the Vale of Avoca, Co. Wicklow was dismantled. Large components of the plant that could not access Arklow Port were transported by road to Dublin Port from where heavy-lift vessel, Vega, exported parts for further re-use also in Pakistan in addition to China and Finland. Source: Journal of the Sea (Vol.1 No. 3 Winter 2004) a magazine published by the Maritime Institute of Ireland (National Maritime Museum, Dun Laoghaire). Credit: Port of Milford Haven

A decommissioned oil refinery have been successfully exported from Pembroke Dock, south Wales to Pakistan.  

The final parts of the former Murco Refinery plant in Pembrokeshire that closed in 2014 were recently removed in an operation that took six-weeks to complete.

During the past three years over 13,000 tonnes of cargo has been transported over the quay in seven exports to southern Asia.

Over the past couple of months, 1,690 tonnes worth of components were exported on the heavy lift vessel Regine and 1,125 tonnes on the Maria (photo above). The largest lift weighed 315 tonnes and measured 21.3m x 8.8m x 8.3m.

In addition to these heavy lift vessels, the Terra Marique barge was positioned at Gelliswick Bay to load the parts that were too large to be transported by road and taken to Pembroke Port along the Milford Haven Waterway. This was a specialist operation as sand had to be dug out of the beach, a ramp built and parts were driven onto the barge when the tide allowed.

Previously in June this year, 2,227 tonnes were exported on the Grietje and last year 4,865 tonnes were exported on the Annemieke, Regine and Frauke. In 2017, 3,240 tonnes of parts were loaded onto the largest vessel to visit to Pembroke Port, the Combi Dock III.

Chris Oliver, Operations Manager at Pembroke Port, commented “The export of the refinery components from Pembroke Port ran smoothly and efficiently. We deal with a wide range of cargoes on a daily basis but this was definitely one of the larger operations in recent years. Our site is flexible in accommodating numerous sectors including breakbulk, renewables, heavy lift operations and storage with a highly experienced team on hand to deliver a safe and professional service.”

Published in Ports & Shipping
Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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