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Specialized Heavy Lift and Transport Solutions for Singapore’s Offshore Island

The recovery and launch of barges support the transformation of Singapore’s landscape.

The Pulau Tekong Polder, a groundbreaking land reclamation project on an offshore island in Singapore, has paved the way for the country’s first polder, reclaiming approximately 800 hectares of land. Led by the Housing Development Board (HDB) and constructed by the Boskalis Penta Ocean Joint Venture (BPJV), this project employs the innovative „Empololdering“ method, which is being used for the first time in Singapore.

Unlike traditional land reclamation, which involves filling with sand, the empoldering approach creates a low-lying land area, known as a polder, by constructing a dike around the area and draining water from it. The dike protects the polder from the sea, and the water level is controlled through a network of drains and pumps. This significantly reduces the amount of fill material required, leading to lower construction costs.

As part of the project, a rainwater catchment basin was constructed within the polder to collect excess rainwater. Various floating devices and barges were used to deepen this large body of water. Upon completion, the equipment and barges—now on dry land—had to be recovered and relocated to enable further operations.

In total, twelve barges weighing between 680 and 990 tons had to be recovered from the rainwater catchment basin, transported over the newly built access road to the dike, and released back into the sea—a complex undertaking that required advanced technical knowledge and specialized equipment.

Mammoet was selected for its extensive experience and successful track record in similar projects worldwide, particularly in the use of airbags and winches during barge launches. A team of local and international experts was assembled, bringing rich knowledge to the site.

The project unfolded in carefully planned phases. Mammoet utilized 68 airbags and four winches with capacities ranging from 60 to 85 tons to recover and launch each barge from the designated pond. Precision and careful management were crucial to ensure the safe recovery of the barges.

Airbags were placed under the bow of each barge, and once all cables were connected, two winches pulled the barge from the water until 18 jacks were positioned. After the barge was recovered, it was lifted to remove the airbags, and SPMTs (Self-Propelled Modular Transporters) were deployed underneath.

The SPMTs then transported each barge to the launch site for deployment at sea. The launch process mirrored the recovery operation, and this was repeated for all twelve barges.

Despite unforeseen weather conditions, Mammoet adhered to a strict schedule, demonstrating agility and commitment. The results were impressive: Mammoet not only met tight deadlines but also played a key role in a transformative project that expanded Singapore’s landmass.

„We are very proud of our role in the Tekong Polder project. By leveraging our global expertise, we have contributed to strengthening Singapore’s geographical presence,“ said Anandan Lokantham, Sales Director at Mammoet Projects AMEA.