Category Archives: Team

Bolstered NOC Team

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In addition to testing the PPC-1 system, PI has also been preparing for the switch from the project phase to the operation phase for the system.  Key amongst the operation phase requirements for the system will be ensuring that the NOC (“Network Operations Centre”) team can reliably handle the new system.  In that vein, PI brought on board four additional NOC team members this week.  Pictured above (from left to right) are three of the additional members: Adam Humrich, Steven Smith and Kumanan Selvanesan (Fred).  Yahya Iqbal is the other new addition.  The NOC team will ensure that the system is soundly monitored 24/7.  Presently the new NOC team members are busy in training in the NOC and in the cable landing stations familiarising themselves with the system.

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  • SB
    Nice six pack in the background - good to see things don't change :-)

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ACOMMS Awards 2009 – PIPE International Wins

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PIPE International won the ACOMMS award in the Partnerships for Growth category for 2009.  The ACOMMS Awards are awarded by the Communications Alliance.  The Communications Alliance is a body which seeks to develop the communications industry in Australia and is the preeminent communications industry body in Australia.  PIPE International’s Managing Director – Bevan Slattery – also received the award for the 2009 Communications Ambassador of the Year together with industry colleague Hugh Bradlow.  (Pictured are: John Bradfield, Project Manager, PIPE International and Bevan Slattery, Managing Director, PIPE International.)

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  • David
    Congrats to you both.

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CCM in Singapore

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Another round of Project Meetings were undertaken recently in Singapore. The location was chosen as a central meeting point for the various Project Team members with other commitments in the region. Attending were:

  • PPC-1: John Bradfield, Lee Harper and Robin Webb
  • Tyco Telecom: Wayne Morris and Bruce Hartman
  • TPNG: Ticker Hayka and Doug Nielsen

The key focus of the meetings was Technical Working Group #4 (TWG #4) and the fast approaching Commissioning and Acceptance Tests. A detailed review of the test procedures was undertaken to ensure all necessary tests have been planned and are sufficiently detailed to be followed by onsite testers and PPC-1 representatives. Once the review was complete the focus shifted to the optimising of the testing schedule to ensure the testing is done as efficiently as possible.

Following completion of the TWG #4, the team rolled straight into Contract Co-ordination Meeting (CCM) #6 reviewing the current marine, shipping, installation and documentation status, outstanding commercial and quality issues and outstanding training logistics.

As per previous meetings, the allocated time was filled and overrun with meetings concluding just in time for the PPC-1 team to make their various flights. In the rush we forgot the obligatory photo opportunity so apologies for those keen to see the Project Team hunched over laptops in another meeting room.

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Type B1 Training in the Sydney CLS

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As a part of the Tyco Telecom turnkey scope, 20 days of training are provided at key points during the project. Back in January, Matt and John attended the ‘Type A’ training in New Jersey. This time it was ‘Type B1′ in the Sydney CLS.

The ‘B’ training (of which there are 3 separate courses of 5 days each) take place in each of the cable stations. These photos were taken during Sydney’s 5-day course. In them you can see Matt and John practising the removal of components from the system. It’s important to understand how/when such work would need to be done as well as following correct procedures (cleaning, ESD, console commands). The course was a success with the guys getting their first ‘hands-on’ taste of managing the PPC-1 network. Training has already been completed in Guam and the Tyco Telecom trainer is currently in Papua New Guinea working with the Telikom staff.

‘Type B2′ training will take place in all stations later in the year, once the cable has been laid. ‘Type B3′ will be conducted only in Sydney as it’s more aimed towards the NOC staff, rather than the station technicians.

3 comments – Latest by:
  • Stevo
    Not bad for a mechanical engineer, JB!
  • Matt Whitlock
    Hi Kim, Thanks for the question. You may find that the information in the 'Technology' section of this site useful. ...

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Bevan’s Speech at the Australian PPC-1 Landing

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CEO Bevan Slattery’s speech at the Australian PPC-1 Landing. The press conference took place in a marquee in Plateau Park in Collaroy. Minutes before, VIPs, press and guests witnessed the cable being winched through the beach manhole after landing into the borepipe and onto Australian shores.

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  • Grant
    It seems strange that the questions were cut, doesn't make it as easier to determine what Bevan is answering.

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Matt’s Diary – Guam Landing (Part 3)

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Back to Matt’s diary about life aboard the Tyco Decisive…

Friday 1st May  

The Tyco Decisive (at the time of writing) is approximately 120km into the lay, with another 2100km to go. Today will cover a big milestone – the crossing of the Marianas Trench! PPC-1 will traverse the trench at approximately 9400m water depth and therefore the positioning of the repeaters is critical to ensure that they are not too deep.

Since about 2am, the Tyco Decisive has been steadily laying down the slope to the bottom of the trench. During this time the cable paying out of the back of ship has been stretching for nearly 13km before reachign the seabed. As well as the long stretch, the engineers have been managing the speed that the cable leaves the ship to control the correct amount of slack and to ensure that the repeaters land in the right places.  

The photograph above shows the point that the computer system being used to control the laying modelled the touch down point.  

(Editor’s note:  Matt wrote this as he was leaving Guam a few weeks ago.  The next few blog entries will catch up with where the Tyco Decisive is currently located.)

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Matt’s Diary – Guam Landing (Part 1)

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Our Manager of Network Operations, Matt Whitlock, is currently on the Decisive making its way to Papua New Guinea. Here is the first part of his diary entry of the cable landing in Guam.

Wednesday 29th April

The CS Tyco Decisive moved into position at approximately 0645, 800m away from the bore pipe entrance to the Beach Manhole. By 0715, the small support boat Pot Luck has collected the 25m lead rope and started to pull the cable ashore using inflatable yellow floats.

The cable entered the Beach Manhole at 1141. 

Once in the manhole, the armour wires were anchored and the divers started to cut the floats away, letting the cable sink into position on the seabed. By 1730, the Decisive was able to start sailing away whilst the ship conducted a test to make sure the cable hadn’t been damaged on the pull in.

The Tyco Shore End team were given the all clear to start the jointing works around 1830. The joint was finally completed in the early hours of Thursday morning, by which time the Decisive was almost 20km away.

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Pre-lay Meeting aboard the Decisive

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Staff from PIPE International, Tyco Telecom, and CalPac held the Pre-lay meeting on board the Tyco Cable Ship Decisive for the shore end landing on Monday 27 April 2008. Everyone is excited and looking forward to the initial landing of the PPC1 cable system!

Pictured L to R – John Bradfield, John Healy and Lars Tjernagel

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CCM #5 Conclusion

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The PPC-1 team paid a visit to the Durable whilst it was loading the remainder of the PPC-1 cable system. The visit allowed the team to see the loading first hand and for Matt, John and Robin to tour a Tyco cable ship for the first time. This was particularly helpful for Matt as it gave him his first taste of his new home for the next month.

Robin will be staying on board as one of the PPC-1 load reps. He will work with Michael to ensure there is 24hour coverage of the loading process.

The tour concluded the activities for CCM #5 and the PPC-1 team has now departed for Guam to arrive in time to meet the Decisive.

Pictured L to R – Frank Allan, Wayne Morris, John Bradfield and Matt Whitlock

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CCM#5 Meeting in Japan

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The PPC-1 team (Matt, John, Frank Allan & Robin Webb) have been attending the Contract Coordination Meeting (CCM) #5 held at the Hitachi Cable Factory since Tuesday. Working with the Tyco Telecom team of Wayne Morris, Ed Seeman, Bruce Hartman, Andy Smith, Ian Fitzgerald, Doug Brawn, Lee Hashem on a series of meetings. They fall under the categories of Marine, Technical and Contract. During the three days we worked with Tyco Telecom to ensure that the project is continuing smoothly.

These meetings were mainly focussed on the upcoming cable laying and the testing of the system that will happen after the final splice. Although the days were long, they were very productive with lots of ground covered and key decisions taken. This is an important part of the project schedule as it presents a perfect opportunity to sit down with our Tyco Telecom counterparts and work face-to-face, rather than by teleconference and email all the time.

Holding the meetings in Japan also allowed us to link up with the departure of the Decisive to Guam and the arrival of the Durable.

Pictured left to right – Wayne Morris, Frank Allan, John Bradfield, Robin Webb

3 comments – Latest by:
  • Beau
    I didn't expect to see all thesen network cables in this picture. It made me laugh. But I agreed with ...
  • Stevo
    JB - What's with the new do? Preparing yourself for a long trip offshore?

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