Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers Ltd (ASX:KPT) has completed pre-approval works on a large pontoon which it intends to use for the proposed KI Seaport export facility.
The pontoon was acquired with the intention of forming the berth face of the proposed deepwater wharf at Smith Bay on Kangaroo Island’s north coast.
An EIS for this facility is currently on public display.
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The pontoon, which is 168 metres in length by 41 metres width and with a deck height of 9.5 metres, has been undergoing reconditioning and refitting works in a shipyard in Vietnam.
All planned pre-approval works have been completed and the pontoon has been transferred to a freshwater upriver storage location near Ho Chi Minh City.
Any further work will be delayed until after development approval for the facility.
Plans for the proposed export port at Smith Bay.
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The pontoon is fully ballastable, which means the freeboard can be varied to meet operational and maintenance requirements.
It will be relocated to Smith Bay only when the causeway and retaining structures are in place to receive it, as the final stage in construction of the KI Seaport.
Once the pontoon is in place, KPT will then be able to export pine logs.
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Materials handling equipment will then be built on the land, causeway, jetty and pontoon, to enable the export of hardwood woodchips.