Eleven solid fuel tanks built for the US Army to contain 300 million liters of flammable and flammable liquid on Darwin Harbor are not designed to withstand a category three cyclone.
The findings are included in an engineering report and can be unveiled after the ABC had reported that the tanks were built illegally, without a building permit.
In 2021, praised as a “crucial project” for American defense activities from the north of Australia, the $ 270 million project Caymus Fuel Storage Facility was intended as operational by September 2023.
However, the tanks have never kept fuel, partly because water penetrates their base.
US Company Crowley owns the facility after he has won an American government offering to build it on Northern Territory Government Land.
Two subcontractors who successively had the role of Leadbuilder-in Australia Saunders International and the American Latitude 63 hebben both contracts ended by Crowley.
Tanks designed on the resistant reinforcement standard
The engineering report, obtained by the ABC, was completed in December 2023 by the project certificator of the project, then Darwin Firm Acer Forester.
It was commissioned by Latitude 63 and based on the advice of the main structural engineer at the Adelaide -based company Fyfe.
Crowley is the owner of the project Caymus Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. ((ABC News: Michael Franchi))
The report contains an assessment of the “important level” for the tanks, according to the National Construction Code (NCC).
An important level is designated for all structures in Australia and is based on the consequences of a structure that fails during a natural disaster such as a cyclone.
The report shows that the tanks on Darwin Harbor must be classified at importance four, the highest classification, for structures “containing dangerous materials that are able to cause dangerous circumstances that go beyond the limits of ownership”.
Project Caymus was announced in 2021 as a crucial project for American defense activities in northern Australia. ((ABC News: Melissa Mackay))
Instead, the tanks were initially designed at importance level two, the classification for a car garage, sanding or suburb workshop.
And before the construction started, the plans were changed to reduce the wind -durability of the tanks under the level of importance one.
“[Crowley] indicated that the tanks are designed at a design wind speed of [249.5 kilometres per hour]”Said the advice of Fyfe.
“But the tank[s] are designed for one [193.5 kilometres per hour] Design wind speed.
“This error was embedded in the Saunders International Computer calculations, where it would have been difficult [Crowley] To discover. “
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, wind blows can reach three cyclone up to 224 kilometers per hour during a category.
In 1974, serious tropical Cycloon Tracy Darwin destroyed with gusts of wind that reached 217 kilometers per hour before the instruments for the wind decrease failed.
Darwin has not touched a cyclone since construction started on the Caymus fuel tanks project.
The report also noted that a document drawn up by Saunders by Saunders that the design of the tanks “was not acceptable” was not acceptable “.
Saunders International did not respond to specific questions from the ABC on issues that have been discussed in the report.
Instead, it provided a statement: “Saunders left the site in April 2023, after the building contract requirements had completed in full agreement with relevant codes, practices and permits.”
“The tanks were built according to the specifications of the owner and their appointed engineer,” said the explanation.
“We refer you to Crowley, the owner and operator, for further questions.”
The engineering report showed that the fuel tanks could not resist a large cyclone. ((ABC News: Michael Franchi))
‘Catastrophic consequences’ of bad design
In the report, Fyfe also advised on the dangers related to the insufficient design of the tanks.
“The failure of the tanks in a cyclonic wind event can lead to more than 200 million liters of flammable and/or flammable liquid being sent,” the report said.
“[This would cause] Dangerous circumstances outside the real estate boundaries and to important population areas and strategic facilities.
“[It would] have catastrophic consequences for people, property and the environment. “
Cyclone Tracy destroyed Darwin in 1974. ((ABC archive))
In his findings, Acer Forester said that the lives of the inhabitants of Darwin would be in danger if the tanks failed during a cyclone while they are operational.
“The danger of human life would at least be substantial, if not extreme,”
said the report.
“The impact on the public (including environmental damage) would at least be substantial, if not extreme.”
What was the outcome of the report?
In a statement, Latitude 63 said that it presented the report to Crowley, which then “Acer Forester removed from the project”.
Latitude 63 said that Crowley has also changed their contract “to remove the responsibility for project certification”.
Latitude 63 said that it remained “to keep his remaining obligations within the revised scope of the work”, but was eventually also removed from Project Caymus by Crowley.
Crowley ended the contracts of both Saunders International and Latitude 63. ((ABC News: Michael Franchi))
Crowley said it “continued to work closely in the Northern Territory government to ensure that the … facility was built in accordance with all relevant safety, construction and environmental standards”.
“During the design and construction process, Crowley confirmed that all required approvals will be obtained from the Northern Territory government and other relevant authorities prior to the start of the activities,” said her statement.
The NT minister of countries, planning and the environment said that “collaborated with Crowley to offer independent verification of the required safety, construction and environmental standards and considerations”.
“This independent evidence is necessary to determine that the tanks meet the Australian standards that ensure that the project can be completed and operated,” the Department said in a statement.
The NT government has never taken action against Crowley for starting and continuing construction at Project Caymus without a building permit.
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