TAKE Eptec Newsletter
March 2018
Quarterly Release
CONTENTS Message from the CEO
HMAS Bathurst
Pacific Jewel
Vent Shafts
Employee Highlights
Refurbishment works completed in WA
Progress update on two sites in the NSW region
2018 Docking in Garden Island, Sydney
The new Executive Management Team & 20 Yr Employee Long Service Awards
join our team. As a result of this, Managing Director, Claudio Di Berardino, has now stepped down from his position and I have been appointed the new MD.
CEO Message I’d like to welcome you all back to the beginning of another great year, and to our first edition of Take 5 for 2018. It has been a quick few months already, and changes in Eptec have been abundant. In late December last year, Eptec completed a management buy-in/buy-out, and we welcome new representatives from the investment company, Alceon Group, to
In particular, I’d like to take this opportunity to address changes in our executive team which now consists of; myself as Managing Director and CEO, Mark Benham as CFO, Director & Company Secretary, and Pier Nissotti as General Marine Manager. In addition to this, I’d also like to welcome two new members to our Executive team; Geoff Knox, former CEO of Downer EDI, now Executive GM Services & Director, and Trevor Robertson, former CEO of Kilpatrick Green, and now Group GM Growth & Development. With the additional financial backing of key stakeholders now in the business, Eptec is not only in the midst of tackling some of our largest ever projects, but we are also geared for upcoming Australian growth opportunities. Our advantage in being an Australian owned and financially strong second tier contractor, is that it allows us to analyse the market and mobilise quickly
when an opportunity arises. Our goal in the next few years is to grow into a recognised Australian second tier Prime, with aggressive interest in being an Asset Life Extension Specialist. We can see substantial growth of Asset Life Extension, especially dominant in the infrastructure industry. I’d like to thank you all for supporting Eptec through our last 20 years, and I look forward to sharing our growth and progress with you in the future.
Joe Viglione Managing Director & CEO
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NAVAL DEFENCE & MARINE
HMAS Bathurst, WA HMAS Bathurst is one of Australia’s 12 Armidale Class Patrol Boats. Its principal contribution is to the nation’s fisheries protection, immigration, customs and drug law enforcement operations. The patrol boats work hand-in-hand with other Government agencies as part of the Australian Border Force, and in the event of warfare, they would be tasked to control the waters close to the Australian mainland.
by Ultra High Pressure blasting and a High Pressure fresh water washing of all external surfaces after the remediation works carried out by the Client. Eptec also conducted surface preparation works, such as abrasive blasting, mechanical descaling and abrading, on the ship in order to change the colour and reinstate the underwater hull paint system.
Eptec Marine was initially commissioned by Austal Ships to remove the antifouling from the underwater hull and reapply the system. However, during the course of the project, Austal extended the scope to award the full painting of the vessel to Eptec.
The most integral aspect of the docking was managing the conflict between other trades and operators during the availability. The conditions were challenging as there were site restrictions with a very tight time frame for the blasting and painting activities, however with careful, calculated planning, and execution, Eptec was able to complete all works safely and on time to a satisfied Client.
The main scope of work included the removal of the silicone antifouling
Pennant numbers being painted on the bow
HMAS Bathurst Port side shot
Silicone antifoul coating on Starboard bow side
WATER & WASTEWATER
Sydney Water Vent Shafts, NSW Eptec Services is currently working with Sydney Water to provide maintenance services to Vent Shafts around New South Wales. More often than not, our sites have been on private ground, so liaising with home and business owners is a must. Recently we’ve completed a vent shaft refurbishment at Unanderra, where the shaft was located at the Industrial Waste Sewerage Line Pump Station. Due to heavy corrosion of the mild steel shaft & the supporting T-bars, and its close proximity to the coast, the vent shaft was deemed to be replaced as part of Sydney Waters Vent Shaft maintenance program.
Replacement of the Unanderra Vent Shaft
Another recent site at Artarmon proved a challenge - the existing 14m Vent Shaft was located within a Council reserve located next to a rail corridor in Artarmon. Due to corrosion of the mild steel shaft and the supporting T-bars, the vent shaft was deemed to be replaced completely. Again, liaison with the community and stakeholders was critical, with all parties’ interests understood. Proper, detailed planning ensured risks to all parties and the environment were managed efficiently. The projects demonstrate Eptec’s key strength in adapting to different situations whilst maintaining integrity in all that we do.
Site establishment with crane setup and vent shaft removal
Cutting and removing of existing vent shaft from the crane
NAVAL DEFENCE & MARINE
P&O’s Pacific Jewel, NSW The Pacific Jewel is a cruise ship currently owned by Carnival Corporation and is operating under P&O Cruises Australia. The cruise liner was originally launched on 25 May 1989 and weighs an impressive 70,310 gross tonnes. Its 14 decks house over 1,670 guests per voyage, and its usual journeys have seen it travelling all over the Asia-Pacific Region. For its 2018 docking, Eptec Marine was commissioned by Thales Australia Pty Ltd to undertake the preparation and preservation works for of the Pacific Jewel. Eptec’s main scope of works included a High Pressure fresh water
High Pressure fresh water blasting to the UWH
washing of boot top and underwater hull (UWH) areas, spot mechanical descaling and abrading preparation works, two localised coats of anticorrosive paints and then two localised coats of an advanced silicone antifouling coating to the underwater hull, and two localised coats of anticorrosive paints and then two full coats of conventional antifouling coating to the boot top. The preservation works were undertaken over a short 8 day docking, with our team and other trades working around the clock to accommodate the tight time frame. All works were delivered safely, on time, and on budget to a satisfied Client.
A coat of localised anticorrosive paint being applied to the UWH
De-masking of the UWH after final coats of paint have been applied
WHEN RISK MATTERS
The New Executive Management Team
L-R: Joe Viglione (MD/CEO), Mark Benham (CFO), Geoff Knox (Executive GM Services), Trevor Robertson (Group GM Growth & Development), Pier Nissotti (GM Marine) The Eptec Executive Team has a combined 150+ years of experience in Senior Executive/Management Roles. Their combined experience is across a wide spectrum of services for companies such as: Australian RAN, CASA, Deloitte, Downer EDI, GE Mining, IBM, Kilpatrick Green, Macquarie Capital, RailCorp, Tenix, Theiss, Transfield, and many more.
20 Years Service It’s not every day that a company has the honour of recognising its two longest serving employees celebrating 20 years of service.
Eptec Group
Bruno has over 30 years experience in Marine and Services work, beginning in the Williamstown Shipyard in Victoria. After the closure of Williamstown, Bruno has found himself to be centre of all Eptec work at the ASC shipyard in SA, leading a team to the successful delivery of the HMAS Collins Class submarine. He is now refocusing his efforts for the delivery of the HMAS Waller this year.
P.O. Box 782 Broadway NSW, 2007, Australia 463-467 Harris St Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia t: +61 2 9034 6969 f: +61 2 9034 6970 e: eptec@eptec.com.au www.eptec.com.au
Mark has also worked in the Williamstown shipyard since 1998, where he is best known for his key efforts during the Anzac Frigate Project. After his work in Williamstown, he moved on to successfully completing the Project Protector vessels for the Royal New Zealand Navy. Today he is our in-house Spirit of Tasmania Specialist, operating from Station Pier at Phillip Bay. Bruno and Mark have been two pillars in the development of Eptec, and it is only with their hard work and dedication that some of our key projects have been as successful as they were.
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L-R: Mark Sanders, Bruno Dumont