A new coal export terminal is taking shape in Gladstone, with the first of nine deck units that will help form part of its wharf installed.
Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET), is being constructed at Golding Point to the west of the existing RG Tanna and Barney Point Terminals, and will form part of the existing Port of Gladstone.
A joint initiative being developed by existing and potential coal exporters in Queensland, the terminal is moving closer to its first shipment of coal in 2015 with the arrival and installation of two deck modules which will form the wharf of the project.
The initial modules weigh 656 and 342 tonnes, with the 8.5 hour lift and install effort involving fabricators SinoStruct, Monadelphous Muhibbah Marine Joint Venture, Jumbo Shipping and the WICET PCM team.
The project is now preparing to receive a further three modules in November.
WICET acting general manager project development Peter Lyons said the installation of the deck units marked a major milestone for the offshore marine works associated with the project.
"Significant progress has been made on both the wharf and jetty structures," he said.
"To date, almost 40% of the 341 piles, which form the foundations for these structures, have been driven into place."
Stage one construction of WICET is about 65% complete.