As owner of R. E. Wedding Associates Consulting Engineers, Rene Wedding, P.Eng., has plenty of experience in production facilities development, transportation engineering, bulk material handling and much more in the Vancouver area and worldwide. Read on:
Sandwell Engineering Vancouver-Rio Tinto, Brazil
Sandwell Engineering LLX Brazil
Iron ore project engineer for Porto Brasil Greenfield site to construct a $2 billion port facility to handle 80 Mtpa iron ore, grain, fertilizer, and ethanol and 400 million TEU containers. The project included rail and truck receiving of bulk goods, storage and handling, development of an ocean port with a 9 km trestle, island construction for 6 Panamax and Cape ship loaders, and a container terminal. Island Port Moody and constructability selection criteria such as environmental issues, dredging and disposal, wave and siltation studies and all coastal and marine aspects of project were undertaken.
Site planning included optimization studies of overland rail (narrow and wide gauge), road infrastructure, trestle design and capacity, berth construction methodology and optimized offshore island construction methods.
Marine design included optimization of channel dredging, channel orientation, capacity, safety, tug selection and siltation issues. Local marine, environmental and coastal specialists and the University of Sao Paulo were also involved to provide peer review of all design details.
Onshore site design included optimization of iron ore stockyards and stacking and reclaiming equipment, vertical and horizontal flat storage for potash and grains, and bulk storage for ethanol.
Project management work consisted of CAPEX and OPEX budgets (+/- 15%), coordination with approximately 20 Brazilian sub-consultants, regular meetings in Rio de Janeiro with the owners, development of design basis, project procedure, cost control and scheduling for engineering budgets.
Sandwell Engineering CVRD Brazil and EBX Chile
Project management over a team of 15 people. Prepared master plan document for CVRD (Companhia Vale do Rio Doce) Tubarao, Vitoria Brazil and TPPM Sao Luis Brazil. These are world-class bulk handling facilities for iron ore, as well as soya beans, soya meal, coal, fertilizer, copper concentrate and pig iron. Containers, steel products and break bulk products are also handled.
The project included marine works for ULOC (ultra large ore carriers of 620,000 DWT), conveyors, rotary car dumpers, stackers and reclaimers for iron ore.
VNN – Votorantim Novos Negócios- Salinas Port Study – Brazil
Votorantim Novos Negócios – VNN conducted a preliminary study for the development of an iron ore mining project in the city of Salinas-MG, Brazil. As part of this study, Sandwell was contracted by VNN to assess port site alternatives along the northeast coast of Brazil, where the iron ore extracted from Salinas could be shipped to international markets.
For each of the sites, VNN asked Sandwell to produce layouts and cost estimates for several options to receive up to 60 Mtpa ore via rail and slurry pipeline, and to develop port and shipping facilities for each option. We:
Sandwell Engineering CSN Brazil –Proposal
The Terminal de Carvão - Tecar (Tecar Coal Terminal) located at the Itaguaí Port Itaguaí/RJ – Brazil was leased by CSN in July 1997 for 25 years, renewable for an additional 25 years. Since then, CSN has developed several upgrades to the terminal facilities.
CSN asked Sandwell to submit a proposal for the development of the basic design and tender documents for this Phase 4 expansion. In summary, the scope of work of Sandwell included the following:
Sandwell Engineering Coppead Iron Ore Itaguai Sepetiba Bay Brazil
Porto do Itaguaí. Terminal de Uso Público
Sandwell performed a strategic level conceptual study of the proposed iron ore handling facilities at the Porto do Itaguaí. Sandwell Engineering Inc of Vancouver was supported by Sandwell Engenharia Limitada of Belo Horizonte in this study.
Sandwell Engineering Usiminas Cosipa
Usiminas Cosipa –Companhia Siderúrgica Paulista- considered development at an iron ore deposit in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil and a construction of a marine terminal at the Cosipa Port Moody in Santos to ship the mine production overseas.
Usiminas retained Sandwell Engineering Inc. to prospect the potential site on the Brazilian coast in Cubatao, some 20 km from Santos, for the marine terminal Port Moody and to develop preliminary lay-outs and cost estimates for the pre-selected sites.
The following options were reviewed and considered to transport the mine production to the marine terminal: 1) MRS railroad from the mine to the marine terminal site and 2) trucks.
The existing port facilities were evaluated:
A CAPEX and OPEX estimate was produced for several alternatives and presented to Usiminas in PowerPoint and final report form
Shapiro, Hankinson and Knudsen Barristers and Solicitors
Sandwell Engineering CVRD Brazil
As project manager over a project team of 10 people, produced Phase II master plan document for CVRD (Companhia Vale do Rio Doce) Tubarao, Vitoria, Brazil. The master plan included upgrading the port from 80 Mtpa to 1 60 Mtpa, including preliminary design and estimating to detailed engineering level (75%). The project included:
Submitted written technical reports of all simulations, and production and presentation of the master plan document to CVRD in Brazil in English and Portuguese.
Sandwell Engineering Inc.
Served as project manager over a team of 10 people for Phase II master plan document for CVRD (Companhia Vale do Rio Doce) Mine, Carajas Brazil; and TPPM Port, Sao Luis, Brazil regarding upgrade of mine and beneficiation from 75 Mtpa to 130 Mtpa, with preliminary design and estimating to feasibility level (65%). Upgraded port from 80 Mtpa to 260 Mtpa, including preliminary design and estimating to feasibility level (65%).
Project included marine works for ULOC (ultra large ore carriers of 365,000 DWT), conveyors, rotary car dumpers, stackers and reclaimers for iron ore.
Vancouver Wharves LTD and Borden, Ladner Gervais LLP
Sandwell Engineering Inc.
Phase 1 of a master plan for site development and capital expenditure at Vitória, Brazil, for Companhia Vale do Rio Doce. The project involved travel to Brazil for site inspections and presentations for the upgrade of the iron ore facility from 78 million TPA to 130 million TPA. All aspects of receiving, stockpiling, reclaim and shipping were reviewed and analyzed using a spreadsheet model. Bottlenecks and capital requirements were identified.
A report and PowerPoint presentation was produced and presented to CVRD executives in Brazil.
Shapiro, Hankinson and Knutsen, BC
Expert witness for the defendant involving Industrial litigation for a large Insurer.
Labatt Breweries, New Westminster, BC
Upgrade of Agri Indexer and Car Door Opener at Vancouver Wharves, BCR Marine, North Vancouver, BC
Total Quality Management Review of Agri Facilities at Vancouver Wharves, BCR Marine, North Vancouver BC
Vancouver Wharves –BCR Marine Berth 5 Ship loader rebuild
Design, field services, project management to rebuild collapsed agri shiploader. Removal of collapsed boom, rebuild of Pebco Spout, automation and safety upgrades, recertification and load testing.
Vancouver Port Authority, (VPA) (2003-2004)
Inspection of passenger gangways at Canada Place, including mechanical screw jack rebuilds, maintenance procedures, general repair and maintenance, hydraulic upgrades, testing, commissioning and load testing.