By Peter Kenyon, July 30, 2014
(See website for a podcast.)
With the world’s largest TBM idle in the ground following
the well-publicized failure of the bearing seals that protect its main
bearing, a high-level delegation from the project’s contractor team of
Dragados and Tutor Perini (Seattle Tunnel Partners), journeyed to Japan
for urgent talks with senior representatives of the machine’s
manufacturer, Hitachi Zosen.
Among those present at the talks were STP Project Manager Chris Dixon, who spoke in detail to TunnelTalk
about the nature of the repairs being carried out, the “aggressive”
repair schedule, enhancements that are to be made to the machine, and
the sealing of a deal that will see Hitachi Zosen bearing the cost of
TBM repairs for the time being. STP, for its part, will assume
responsibility for costs associated with excavation of the recovery
shaft through which access will be gained to the 17.48m diameter
machine’s cutterhead, main bearing, bearing block and ruptured sealing
system.Dixon also answers questions relating to STP’s claim request against the client, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), for US$125 million of extra contractual charges associated with the repair of the machine under the provisions of a “change order” clause in the design-build contract. WSDOT has strongly rejected this claim, though STP is likely to contest this further down the line.
References
- STP Repair Plan (June 16)
- Bertha bearing to get 86-tonne reinforcement – TunnelTalk, June 2014
- TBM Bertha repairs strategy – TunnelCast, April 2014
- Twelve month repair job for TBM Bertha – TunnelTalk, April 2014
- Addressing the Bertha bearing seal issues – TunnelTalk, February 2014
- WSDOT questions contractor TBM decisions – TunnelTalk, March 2014
- TBM Bertha suffers bearing seal failure – TunnelTalk, February 2014
- Hyperbaric inspections begin in Seattle – TunnelTalk, January 2014
- Investigating the Seattle mega-TBM stoppage – TunnelTalk, January 2014
- Dewatering to help deal with stuck Bertha – TunnelTalk, December 2013