Panther Project

Moving critical reels from Europe to the Niger Delta – safely, efficiently, on schedule

From European ports to shallow-water operations

 

For Chevron’s redevelopment of shallow-water fields in Nigeria, SAL delivered a multi-stage transport programme moving 27 heavy reels and associated equipment to the Niger Delta. The operation connected lift-intensive loadings in Kalundborg and Velsen with discharge and onward transfer in Onne and Warri, meeting Chevron’s stringent handling and QHSE requirements throughout. The programme deployed three SAL vessels working in sequence to maintain an uninterrupted cargo flow.

 

One programme, multiple legs – engineered for continuity

 

The sequence began with two voyages carrying the reels from Denmark and the Netherlands to Onne, Nigeria. A dedicated shuttle leg then bridged Onne to Warri, enabling safe offload to offshore vessels while respecting draft limits and local conditions. A third SAL vessel served as the shuttle to interface with shallow-water operations and offshore units. This approach kept the flow of cargo aligned with offshore windows and minimised idle time at each interface. 

 

Planning, standards, and local execution

 

Chevron’s high specifications shaped every step – lift planning, seafastening, voyage checks, and discharge procedures. SAL Engineering (Manila) prepared the engineering and supervised loading in Kalundborg, ensuring clean technical interfaces and repeatable procedures. Local delivery benefitted from Harren Nigeria’s on-the-ground support for commercial, operational, and logistics tasks, keeping the timeline predictable across port calls and shuttle runs. 

 

Throughput and results

 

Across the programme, SAL transported 27 reels (up to 281 tonnes) and a tensioner; 18 reels were carried on one leg and nine on another, reflecting staged cargo readiness and offshore demand. The three-vessel rotation ensured schedule resilience – if one leg faced weather or port constraints, another vessel kept the programme moving. Each vessel in the rotation was engaged for around 130 days, underscoring the sustained cadence needed to match field operations. The programme supported Chevron’s redevelopment milestones without compromising safety or schedule.