Svabo Makes Strong Progress on the Deep-Water Quay Project: “No Two Trenches Are the Same”

Work on the new high-voltage power supply to the deep-water quay is well underway. Although the contractors have encountered concrete foundations, reinforcing steel and challenging ground conditions along the route, the project remains on schedule.

Excavation is now progressing along the route between Svabo Industrinett and the Deep-Water Quay. The objective is to install just over 3.5 kilometres of new high-voltage cable.

Before the cable can be installed, the trenches must be completed—and what lies beneath the surface has proven to be more than just soil and rock.

“We’ve encountered all sorts of unexpected conditions. There are rocky ground masses as well as objects buried underground that we had no idea existed until we uncovered them,” says Marte Wea, Project Manager at Svabo Industrinett.

Together with fellow Project Manager Mikael Sternang, she is responsible for overseeing the project from planning through to completion.

One of the biggest challenges has been the discovery of old concrete structures and reinforcing steel.

At one location, the contractors uncovered a concrete foundation that proved to be far more substantial than expected.

“We tried moving it with a 15-tonne excavator, but it wouldn’t budge,” says Dag Arne Myrheim, machine operator and maintenance technician at Anleggsservice.

Alternative methods had to be employed.

Using cutting equipment, the reinforcing steel is removed piece by piece before excavation can continue.

“We can’t have material like that lying next to the cable. It has to be removed,” says Wea.

The civil engineering work is being carried out by Øijord & Aanes, with Anleggsservice serving as subcontractor.

Despite these unexpected challenges, the project remains on schedule.

“We have an incredibly skilled team working out in the field. Whenever we encounter challenges, they find practical solutions and keep moving forward. It’s very reassuring to work with people who have this level of experience,” says the project manager.

Construction began shortly after Easter and is scheduled for completion in September.

Once the trenches are finished, Svabo’s own installation team will take over the next phase of the project.

The new high-voltage cable will then be pulled through the entire route—a demanding operation requiring specialized equipment, powerful winches and careful planning.

“It’s a very large and heavy cable. We’ll need both winches and plenty of pulling force to get it through the route,” says Wea.

The new cable will secure the electricity supply to the Deep-Water Quay while also providing additional capacity for future growth.

“We’re building in more capacity than is needed today. That means we’ll be better prepared if additional connections are required in the future,” says Wea.

Although the ground has presented several surprises, she is pleased with the project’s progress.

“No two trenches are ever the same. But we’re making good progress, and we have an excellent working relationship with the contractors carrying out the work,” she says.

Categorised in: Industripark News