J M Baxi completes CERES module transport and marine loadout

J M Baxi has completed the heavy transportation and marine loadout of 110 modules for Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) CERES Project at its Modular Fabrication Facility in Kattupalli, near Chennai. The modules, weighing a total of 64,000 MT, were moved and loaded across 23 LOTs using 120 Scheuerle Generation 4 SPMT axles and five vessels.

The project involved detailed engineering, SPMT planning and field execution. J M Baxi handled activities ranging from load distribution and internal shifting to positioning and vessel loadout, with the operations planned around different load requirements, site constraints, equipment availability and operating conditions.

J M Baxi said the project was completed through the combined efforts of its Engineering, Operations, HSE, Maintenance and Project Management teams, which worked on the transportation and loadout operations.

The completion comes as L&T has also marked the flag-off of the final shipment of modules for the CERES Project from its Kattupalli facility.

CERES involves the fabrication and delivery of 110 Process and Piperack modules, weighing approximately 64,000 MT, across 23 voyages to the Burrup Peninsula in Australia. The modules are being supplied for what L&T describes as Australia’s largest ammonia-urea manufacturing facility.

The facility has a production capacity of 2.3 MTPA and is described by L&T as the world’s first highly modularised world-scale ammonia-urea plant. L&T said the project was delivered with 37 million safe workhours.

The CERES project adds to J M Baxi’s involvement in large-scale maritime and logistics operations. In January 2026, the company agreed in principle with GAIL (India) and Japanese shipping company K Line to jointly own an LNG carrier currently under construction at Samsung Heavy Industries.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2027 and will operate under a long-term time charter with GAIL. The three companies signed a term sheet for equity participation in a Singapore-based ship-owning company during India Energy Week in Goa in January.

K Line had previously signed a long-term time charter agreement with GAIL for the new LNG carrier in December 2024. The vessel has a tank capacity of 174,000 cubic metres and is being built by Samsung Heavy Industries.