Case Study
Project at a Glance
Client: NovaGold Resources Inc.
Task: Custom design, manufacture, transport and install a large, remote exploration camp
Time-line: 16 weeks
Challenge:
Working in remote areas can present many logistical challenges - especially when operations grow and camp sizes expand. For NovaGold Resources Inc., it was the distance and the size of their northern BC camp that presented the challenge. In addition, the remote location necessitated helicopter transport for the new buildings required to expand their camp over rugged 7,000 ft mountain terrain.
NovaGold knew that expanding their Galore Creek Project facility was going to require custom designed manufactured buildings that would accommodate their unique needs. Not only would the buildings need to be designed in collaboration with NovaGold staff, they would need to be modular and light enough to transport by helicopter - this required a company that could provide building solutions from start to finish.
An in-depth search supported by an impressive list of high-profile projects and excellent references led NovaGold directly to Northern Trailer as the best, full-service organization to custom design, manufacture, transport, and install the new buildings.
Jim Muntzert, NovaGold Senior Project Manager, says Northern Trailer was selected "because of their very competitive prices, quality construction and the reputation of their field installation teams".
Solution:
After extensive consultation with a wide range of NovaGold project leaders and partners, Northern Trailer presented NovaGold with a design that was the perfect fit for their unique needs. The solution included 32 brand new modules that would expand the camp with office complexes, lavatories, shower units, laundry buildings, a first aid building and a large kitchen and diner complex.
A remote camp this size has unique needs - like regular 12,000 lbs. food deliveries - and requires an extremely well-planned kitchen facility. The custom designed kitchen was developed in close consultation with NovaGold and the Camp Chefs and resulted in a floor-plan layout that accommodates the handling and preparation of large amounts of meals and seating capacity for over 150 workers.
A Northern Trailer Camp King staff quarters was installed as an airport-based staging venue for four NovaGold employees ensuring safe and comfortable accommodation and office space at this airport location. The remote camp structures needed to be custom built to weigh less than 10,000 pounds in order to be safely carried by the Kamov-KA32 helicopter into the site. This was achieved through Northern Trailer's computerized estimating systems that delivered weights to within 3% of the allowable limit.
Northern Trailer delivered the 32 units on-time and within the weight limits. "However, it was the field installation crew that proved that Northern Trailer is a 'can-do' organization," says Muntzert.
With the installation taking place in early spring, the ground was wet and unstable. "After arrival at site, the crew devised a way to build stable foundations … and these 'on-the-fly' changes increased the safety of ground personnel, minimized any damage to the modular units and allowed the project to proceed without complications created by the original construction plans."
These on-the-fly changes and flexible attitude demonstrated by Northern Trailer, combined with very professional VIH (Vancouver Island Helicopters) crews and equipment, ensured a timely delivery of a project (two weeks ahead of schedule) that presented significant logistical challenges.
From start-to-finish, Northern Trailer and VIH combined forces to ensure our client, NovaGold, received their camp and related facilities as cost effectively as possible, guaranteeing that NovaGold could proceed into their summertime exploration activities.
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