Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

Week 3 as a JHG employee has seen the Jetty project team grow from 3 to 4 engineers, of which worryingly (for the package leader) I am the second most experienced in the construction industry.  What does this mean? Well I’m being leant on to look at some of the more tricky elements of our preparations and providing that mentoring/guidance role to the 2 junior guys.  All good really and nice to have that little bit of responsibility.

The week started with a 2 day design review, where the Brisbane based design manager, his procurement lead and 3 senior engineers from ARUP visited the Curtis Island site.  The whole design was scrutinised and at times it was painful but in the end I came away from the review with a better understanding of some of the detailed/technical elements of the design.  It was more of a listening/ non-speaking part for me but interesting to see the PM at work and gauge how his mind works.  The project is certainly global as at one point we had a telephone conference with Bechtel in Houston, the design review team (for Bechtel) in Malaysia and us. Interesting to be a part of it and start to understand some of the politics involved.

The remainder of the week has been focussed on the preparation of a Marine Execution Plan, which is basically re-writing a previous plan from the MOF/Fisherman’s landing task originally prepared by a Mr R Marsh.  The document was not adhering to JSP 101 but my revision does now!  I’ve also been focussing my efforts onto some commercial aspects including obtaining quotes for the fabrication of pile cut off platforms and setting up contracts for the installation of a RC abutment / temporary footings for the canti-traveller.

I was also invited to attend some fatigue management training laid on by JHG.  All of the site personnel attended in small groups over the course of 2 days and it was okay. I was expecting it to be disappointing but actually it was well presented and most took on the points.  It will be followed up in a couple of weeks time with a practical workshop so I’ll see how that goes.

I’ve been in contact with the ICE Queensland branch and disappointingly they do not hold any events outside of Brisbane.  This means that it will be unlikely for me to attend anything for my CPD until I move there in December due to the time needed and expense involved (JHG do not pay for this).  I will do my best though.

On a personal front we have had some issues back in the UK with our dogs.  My father has kindly stepped in and now has them. This has caused some angst but should now be sorted. Not much you can do from the other side of the world and I think we’ve now used up this years worth of favours!  We’ve also attended the hospital for Lisa’s first ante-natal appointments and all is well. She is now 36 weeks and ready to pop.

Next week is a short week, finishing on Wednesday with a R&R period from Thursday through until the following Tuesday. Leave pass has been submitted on JPA for the Bank Holidays over Easter. The other days are project Rostered Days Off (RDOs).  Annex B of my AER 1 will show this clearly.  The AER will be submitted (assuming the moodle works okay from my JHG laptop) on Monday in line with the submission timetable.

NFTR at this stage.

This week I have mostly been finding my feet (try and say it like the fast show character).  With the arrival of a mobile phone, a temporary laptop and having acquired a desk by buttering up the PMs PA, I have commenced working.  At the start of the week it was a bit slow as we moved into our house and I had to deal with the removals arriving, but from Wednesday on it was all work, work, work.  Well at least until 11am when the heavens opened and we had 120mm of rain in 2 hours. Oh how I love my scooter in the rain, particularly when water creeps into the engine and it keeps stalling!

Rain does not however stop the office which continues to be a hive of activity until about 2pm on a friday when people start to sly away for flights home if they’ve got Saturday off. This week I am not so lucky and am on the saturday shift but at least it’s an early finish with an 8 hour instead of 10 hour shift.  It’s also giving me the opportunity to write this!

My roles and responsibilities are slowly taking shape and I’m running with the enabling works for the traveller to construct the jetty. We had our first meeting with a contractor this week and I will take the tender forward for revision of the scope of works before advising my package leader as to when to award the contract.  This is only a measly $250,000 but it is something none the less and I am happy for it.  I shall be looking to squeeze the contractors price in order to maximise profitability balanced against the fact that we still don’t know when the start date will be.  We are waiting on Bechtel to issue permits for construction and from that point it will take about 8 weeks until the first boots on the ground.

I have also been tied up in classic Sqn 2IC business, proof-reading the work of junior personnel.  The project plans (there are numerous including, traffic, safety, environment, etc) all need to be submitted for signature by the PM before being approved by Bechtel.  I’ve been going through each of these in turn and conducting the proof reading, re-formatting, etc but it does give me a strong understanding of the project.  I have also been amending accordingly, adding what engineer value I can where appropriate.  Disappointingly they do not conform to JSP 101 but they will by the end of April when I’ve finished with these docs!  The package leader is semi-impressed with my OCD and attention to detail but would probably prefer me to be a bit quicker.

In terms of engineering, I’ve not seen much as yet as the Jetty project will not be starting until May. However, the commercial side is ramping up and I’m going to be getting ticks in those boxes at least.  I am going to be responsible for the test piles and their testing and to save money I am currently trying to use existing pile cut-offs that would otherwise be sent for scrap. The concept is to weld sections together in the hope of saving on the outlay for a 40m length of 1200mm diameter, 25mm pile.  This might work but I need to do a bit of work on the strengths of welds, etc to ensure that they don’t fail in the testing. Watch this space.

I’m also designing (well on a fag packet as John would say) a concept pile cut off platform by bastardising (technical term on site here) a 3 pile group platform that was fabricated and not used on the MOF project.  This is a work in progress and once I’ve done some calcs and with a bit of builders eye, I’ll hopefully be able to send my design off to the fabricators for said bastardisation!

Moving to off-site matters, I have spoken with John Reddie this week who was keen to learn from our transition from the UK to Gladstone. We certainly had a better one than the Marsh family but I suspect it was more to do with personality on my side and subtle/gentle persuasion as appropriate.  That said, the PM won’t let me have international dialling on my phone!  I’ve also been in contact with a communications executive (media man) from JHG who met me on a site visit. He’s going to run an internal JHG piece on me (us – I let him know of Steve, Ros and Dan’s existence) so there may be more to follow on that.

Family is all well. Lisa is now 35 weeks pregnant so the final push is getting ever closer. She is more relaxed now with us being in the house which is allowing me to focus on work. It’s long hours so we don’t see each other much in the week but any more and I might spoil things! Lisa has successfully filled the house with tat and I’m amazed at how much she sent without me knowing, particularly cushions, throws and bunting!  Most importantly though is the fact that the kids mountains of toys are here, my dive kit (not that there’s any dive clubs in Gladstone as it’s only in the barrier reef national park) and of course, Austyn’s birthday presents!

All-in-all, life is good.  More of the same is to follow and I’m still enjoying it (apart from the 4am wake up call).  No photo’s as yet as I’m awaiting permission from Bechtel but this should be through soon. Otherwise I will set up a covert OP and they’ll never even know….

TTFN,

Roy

I have now started working for John Holland (following mandatory inductions) and have been given my first areas of responsibility.  The marine Jetty project that I’m part of the project team for is basically constructed on 1200mm diameter Steel hollow piles that are all vertical. They are reinforced internally to transfer/resist all vertical loads as it is deemed better than installing raking piles due to the sensitivity of the area.

I have been put in charge of the test piles! This will delight John, knowing how much I enjoyed the foundations exercise, but it has potential for a TMR.  This is because John Holland are using a new testing procedure (for JHG that is) with Osterberg Cells (O-Cells) to ensure that the piles will meet the axial (compression and tension) loads and pass lateral load tests.  I will be researching this to death over the next few weeks with the test piles due for installation in May in order that we (the team) understand the methodology and meet the necessary specifications laid down in the Australian standards and Bechtel’s own scope.

I am thinking that seeing as I am already completing research into the O-Cells, why not compare it to the traditional static load testing and do a cost, safety, time analysis to see if on this particular project the selected method provides the best all round value. I can compare to the MOF project that is ongoing as they used traditional test methods using big weights and jacks.  Thoughts and guidance welcomed on developing this concept further!

In addition I will also be responsible for the contract negotiation with subbies, sourcing the piles, manufacturing them as necessary (delivered in segments requiring on site welding), transporting them and installing them from a barge in the ocean. Then, obviously, the testing!

I am also going to be working on the temporary office facilities for the project and foundation design for the traveller. (This will become clearer in AER 1 where I will detail what this is – basically a moving platform that cantilevers out over the ocean to install the pile pairs. John may even have a drawing of one in his office?!?!)

So it’s now all go for me. Motivation is tough at 0415 when my alarm goes off but tends to pick up at about 0450 when I jump on the red rocket to whizz through the empty streets of Gladstone. The team are all friendly (I just don’t mention the ashes, RWC 2003 final, etc) and I’m steadily integrating with them and learning the lingo. There is a family BBQ on Sunday that we’re invited to, to celebrate a year on the GLNG contract, so a good opportunity to meet people socially and Lisa can meet the WAGs. There are quite a few ex-pats and Irish so she’ll be able to pick their brains if nothing else.  The boys have settled into their kindergarten and nursery and even made some new friends (The family all had a play date today with one of Austyn’s Kindy mates).  All-in-all, very happy, work is looking good and a free lunch thrown in on Sunday!

Roy

So up until now we have mostly been relaxed in preparation for the inevitable start of work, which is now in about 10 hours time and the most outrageous of hours, 0500, to catch a ferry to the office. What does this mean…I’ll be going to bed shortly after the kids in order to get my straight eight in so that I’m on fire tomorrow.  Knowing full well it’s all about the first impression I have neatly pressed my uniform (photo to follow of it’s beauty), polished my steel toe capped boots and lost the arguement as to which transport option to take in the morning.  I wanted to take this:

3 litre Ford Territory, air con, nice to drive, etc…BUT Lisa said I have to take this instead:

This is my new toy for commuting, the red rocket, being ably demonstrated by Austyn. It has a 50cc engine and I’ve had 50 Kph out of her downhill with a tail wind. What’s most important is the 75mpg that I get from the monster…with a stat like that it wins hands down every time (plus it was dirt cheap to buy!)

The main reason for the alternate mode of transport is that we have successfully beaten the Gladstone odds and got Austyn into a Kindergrten (Kindy – pre school) as there’s a 9-12 month waiting list for most places and he also starts tomorrow. Elliot is also enrolled into a nursery (once again a shocking waiting list for his age) and will be attending 1 day a week so that he can integrate with the locals (and probably adopt that lovely Aussie twang!)  The boys have also been enrolled into swimming lessons and we managed to get round most of the kids groups last week in the town. What does this all mean? Apart from the fact that I’ve lost control of the Territory it means that I’m able to start work reasonably content that the family unit is squared away.

WRT our housing, we have been allocated a property which we viewed last week and are very happy with it. Whilst it does not have a pool (number 1 priority on Austyn’s wish list) it is brand new, will be fully furnished and ours from next Monday, 19th March (touch wood). Tied to this is our freight which is in Gladstone!!! Hurrah!!! We are going to get it delivered to the new house as it saves double handling at my own time and expense and I can assure you that the contents have been sorely missed, particularly our Summer clothes and the kids toys.

So all in all we are now fairly swept up. Lisa is now 33 weeks along in the pregnancy and has midwife appointments booked for later in the month so that has come together nicely. Just a visit to the hospital needed for planning purposes.

As for Gladstone itself, we are more than happy. It has everything you could possibly want (apart from a dive centre within 3 hours drive) and has a clean, fresh feel about it. There is plenty going on and I might even join the running club so as to keep my eye in for the PFT when we return. I think that anyone would be just fine here (there will be work for many years to come) and it’s cosy for families. This is possibly the most contented that we’ve been as a family unit for some time although that may change from tomorrow!!!

As a final note I have completed some research and have the following pieces of useful information:

McDonalds is known as Macca’s

Pizza Hut takeaway is better here than Domino’s (very strange)

Charcoal BBQ’s take hours to get ready (I’m buying a gas one for the new house)

Sausages are generally made of Beef instead of Pork down under

The chocolate does taste different BUT it’s not inedible, we haven’t told the kids this fact though!

Supermarkets don’t sell alcohol – you have to go to bottle shops

The water does not spin the wrong way round the plug hole as it drains.

And on those bombshells I’m off to make my lunch for tomorrow and get my straight eight.

(Richard, below is a picture just for you as I’ve semi sorted my pictures out now)

Australia Zoo in the rain!

So after a couple of weeks of travel, hotels and apartments, team Serevena is at last in Gladstone, QLD. We are being accommodated in a temporary house in the town until Bechtel allocate our permanent residence. However, the house we are in is very nice and I am in no rush for us to move from here although the garden is a bit small for the boys trampoline!

We flew up from Brisbane yesterday (Wed) and on the same flight was the project HR rep (she was in Brisbane on compassionate) who had arranged for the house keys to be waiting for us at the airport when we arrived. A hire car (standard saloon) had been arranged but once she had seen how much swag we were travelling with (and the kids) and following my request for a Ford Territory (we had one in Brisbane and it was mega – 7 seater mock 4×4) she made it happen. I did offer to pay the difference but she said not to worry! This car appears to be my provided vehicle as the rental agreement is currently until August 2012. No complaints from team Serevena over this!

The project personnel are currently on their 5 day stand down period (after 4 weeks of the project cycle everyone gets 5 days of rest) which means we won’t find out anything new until Tue/Wed next week. Hopefully in that time Bechtel will have sorted a house but apparently they are at 100% capacity…wait out. There is no huge rush though as we can settle for now and our freight still hasn’t cleared customs. (Steve D note that your freight won’t be sent until you have arrived in Australia due to customs legislation so by sending my kit 5 weeks early I achieved next to nothing).  Hopefully we’ll have access to it by Tuesday as it’s Austyn’s 4th birthday and guess where all of his presents are!!!

We’ve all registered with the local doctor, medicare, etc and I’ve purchased a pre-pay broadband dongle so that I can remain in contact with the UK. Note that it expires in 60 days so if you don’t hear from me after that i means that Lisa is living the dream and emptied our account buying Ugg boots!

Apart from the above there is nothing else to report.  Until Tuesday we are going to do the tourist thing and hopefully I might slip in some diving if I can manage to convince Lisa to give me a leave pass! With only 10 days left until I start on site (at some ungodly hour as well) I’m going to make use of the free time that I have!

Roy

(Richard – my admin is still flailing behind me somewhere in Brisbane but I aim to post some photos on the next blog once I’ve downloaded and sorted them from our cameras)

So, we are now in the most precarious situation so far. Tonight is night 7 out of 7 in our Brisbane accommodation and as yet we have been told nothing about what’s going to happen tomorrow. Initially we should have been flying to Gladstone to move into our new pad but alas the promise of “special dispensation” has been broken and we are now stuck in a Bechtel”process” the same as everyone else on the GLNG project. The NET result is that as of 10am tomorrow we are homeless, as of 1300hrs we are car less and if it continues in this pattern by 1600hrs I may find myself wife-less!!!

Immediately following this post I will pen an email to the HR team at JHG basically letting them know how happy and secure we are and we’ll see what comes from that. In true Australian style though it will inevitably work out, the apartments we’re currently in and that are fully booked from tomorrow will probably free up a room from us and I’m sure Hertz won’t mind extending our car hire for another day or two. I think that JHG can pack a punch if they need to.

Apart from the above life has been generally good (less for the excessive Brisbane rainfall at this time of year). We have paid our respects to Steve Irwin and had a good day out at Australia zoo (despite the torrential downpours all day long) and the top tip for my fellow PETs is to ask if they do a military discount. Quite a few places do out here such as Australia Zoo. Unfortunately, I didn’t find this out until the next day but have been asking ever since!

We have visited Surfers Paradise, had a ride on the boat bus, visited Brisbane museum and the kids science centre, had a ride on the Brisbane Wheel, been on the Brisbane taxi boats, registered for our Medicare cards and generally been very busy. We also managed to catch up with an old mate of mine who was QM when I was Sqn 2IC who now serves in the Oz Army.

Importantly, we managed to meet up with the Marsh family and get the lowdown on Gladstone and the GLNG. Rich even managed to find out which part of the project I’ll be working on (the Jetty) which is more than I’ve managed to gain from JHG thus far by speaking direct with them! Having had a good chat about the job it seems that life will not necessarily be as fraught as it was for them and is manageable with a bit of common sense/diplomacy.

I think that this will suffice for now. I need to pack up the hotel room and try to reassure Lisa that everything will work out fine. My next post will hopefully be more positive on the accommodation front and I hope to be writing from Gladstone to!

So since my last blog we have arrived in the cauldron of heat known as Brisbane where we have fallen on or feet with JHG paying for an all-inclusive apartment and a hire car. Brilliant!!!

Key achievements thus far are collecting our bank cards, our hire car and I have attended my pre-employment medical which did not present any significant issues. Lets jus hope they don’t do too many detailed security checks on me, particularly wrt internet activity…

Today we took a trip South (it gets cooler that way) to Surfers Paradise. Why? Because it is the only place I’d ever heard of in the area except for Australia zoo and that’s scheduled in for later in the week.  The kids managed to get their first paddle in the sea and I am happy to report that the sea temperature is warm. I imagine it is a similar temperature to one’s urine, should an accident ever occur!

This was not however the primary talking point though. What I found myself thinking about was the way that the sand and water interacted as the sea waves gently lapped the shore and John Moran’s constant reminders about the next time you go to a beach, take the time to ……….

I ended up taking the time to think about the effect the water had but also explaining it to Austyn (looked interested but clearly wasn’t), Elliot (didn’t look interested and rightly so as he’s only 2) and Lisa (who told me to go and enjoy a big cup of shut the f*** up as we’re on holiday). I however, found my knowledge to be better than expected and would have made John proud.

I have once again included some gratuitous civil engineering shots of high-rise buildings by the sea this time but for those with a more astute eye (and slightly less interest in the engineering) there are a couple of girls in the foreground wearing not very much!

I leave you with this photo then and next time I update you all (if there is a next time) I hope to fill you all in on my planned trip to Australia zoo where I’m hopeful to stroke a tiger, feed a crocodile and perhaps swim with a stingray. Although the last person to do that at Australia zoo was Steve Irwin and look what happened to him….

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