Week of 13 February
1. Heavy lifting at the Huccorgne viaduct (Belgium)
The second phase of the rehabilitation of the Huccorgne viaduct on the E42 motorway, a major axis crossing Wallonia from east to west, has started since January. After rerouting the traffic, the local team started the demolition of the Liège-Namur direction part of the viaduct. The lifting operation to remove the 36 existing precast beams has just started, an impressive and delicate operation, as each of the beams weighs no less than 60 tonnes. The other direction, Namur-Liège, was completed last year. Congratulations team!
2. Belgian chips and waffles for our Parisian colleagues (France)
A ‘fritkot’ (Brussels/Belgian word for a chip stand) was installed last Tuesday at the site of what will once be the third highest tower in central Paris pointing at 180 metres, the Triangle Tower. Our Paris colleagues were treated to famous Belgian chips, along with hamburgers and the equally famous Liège waffles. What a great way to bring our French colleagues a little closer to the Belgian culture!
3. Topping off ceremony at Mediavaert (The Netherlands)
On 8 February, the new hybrid-timber office building for DPG Media Nederland reached its highest point. Dutch street artist Frankey made an exclusive work for this occasion which was hoisted to the top of the building during the topping off ceremony.
With the construction of the sixth and last floor, the complete contours of the new media headquarters are now visible. The next phase will include the fitting of the blue-green façade panels and the landscaping works.
Congratulations to our Dutch colleagues for reaching this major milestone!
4. Progress at Ras Laffan LNG operations centre (Qatar)
BESIX Middle East via MIC Construct is carrying out important marine works in the world's largest LNG operations centre in Ras Laffan, for the rehabilitation of five dolphins (three mooring and two breasting) at LNG berths 3 & 4. The five dolphins showed formation of cracks, which cannot be repaired, therefore encapsulation is required to guarantee the structural integrity of the dolphins until 2035.
The fabrication of the steel encapsulation jacket units for the dolphins is progressing well, including specific welding and blasting works, as well as non-destructive testing of the welds to prevent material failure and assure compliance. In the meantime, the lifting operation and placing of the bottom beams has also started.
Next to the above-mentioned elements, works done by MIC Construct also include underwater rock works to extend the foundation, towing of the encapsulation units to the LNG berths, encapsulation of the dolphins, and concreting the jacket units.
Situated some 80 km from Doha, Ras Laffan Petrochemical Industrial City ranks as the world's largest artificial harbour and the world's leading LNG export centre.
And then this...
Twelve colleagues went together to Alpe D’Huez, a ski resort in the French Alps. During the third edition of their yearly short-ski trip, they had again the bright idea to take a BESIX flag along and plant it at the top of a mountain.
It was a very diverse team with colleagues from BESIX Engineering, BESIX RED, BESIX Belgium & Luxembourg, BESIX International, and BESIX Middle East! A really nice example of diversity and cross-border team spirit and collaboration.