IXOM completes Australia’s first MEG ship-to-ship transfer
- 20-month project concluding in April 2026 executed a specialised MEG ship-to-ship transfer at Port of Dampier.
- Customer required MEG with dissolved oxygen below 20 ppb and controlled residual chlorides.
- Product was sourced from Singapore, transported under an inert atmosphere and handled through five sealed steps to avoid atmospheric exposure.
- Operation used a novel nitrogen purging process, specialist testing, early regulator engagement and completed with zero operational incidents.
Project overview
In April 2026 IXOM completed a 20-month project to carry out a specialised monoethylene glycol (MEG) ship-to-ship (STS) transfer at the Port of Dampier, supplying its UltraPure MEG™ formulation to a customer’s offshore platform.
Chemistry and transfer method
The customer required MEG with dissolved oxygen under 20 ppb and controlled residual chlorides. IXOM sourced virgin product from Singapore, modified the chemistry through a mobile supply chain, and maintained the product in an inert atmosphere during voyage and transfer. The operation involved five handling steps with no exposure to atmosphere and measures to prevent seawater ingress.
Operations, testing and safety
IXOM implemented a novel nitrogen purging operation and performed detailed specialist chemical testing at each step to guarantee purity. Early engagement with port authorities, bow-tie risk assessments focused on loss of containment, and a realistic Emergency Response Service readiness test informed weather thresholds and environmental clarifications.
Leadership and industry impact
Project manager Justin Mathew led pre-tender work and delivery, coordinating more than 27 stakeholder groups including supplier, customer, port authorities and subcontractors. The transfer maintained MEG quality, reported zero operational incidents and no safety issues, and is presented as an Australian-first that sets a benchmark for MEG STS operations.
Source: IXOM
