Search Results for 'sea swift'

Hi!
We have a couple of questions regarding the current usage of petrol.
How much petrol/diesel is currently imported by SeaSwift and how much does this cost the TSIRC?
Where do islanders buy their fuel? Is it at the IBIS store or another location?
After petrol/diesel is imported, is it stored anywhere before it is sold?

Thank you,
TeamTNT

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Blake,

Thanks for checking with us! Apparently many student teams are curious about the shipping costs to Saibai Island. Check the discussion thread here.

While contacting relevant stakeholders outside TSIRC and the Saibai Island community is beyond our scope, we generally encourage students not to send unnecessary enquiries to them. We’ve had an experience in the past where a boat supplier complained to us as they’ve been getting multiple enquiries from students working on the EWB Challenge. (FYI, about 10,000 students are working in the EWB Challenge annually).

I suggest that you check first the resources in the thread. After all, making sound assumptions when there’s a lack of accurate data is part of learning and is also practiced in the industry.

I hope this helps!

Regards,
Jean

I have a question regarding the EWB challenge brief. I know that the EWB challenge says that we are not allowed to contact members of the Saibai Island community or the TSIRC, but I was wondering if we’d be allowed to message companies like Sea Swift about pricings for transporting the materials needed to Saibai Island.

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Truong,

Sorry for not being able to get back to you sooner. Unfortunately, we don’t have the information regarding the extent of the road that needs improvement. However, we’ve received similar questions to yours which have been discussed extensively with other students in this 2-page thread.

In our EWB Challenge FAQs, we have tips on tackling tricky topics such as the project budget and different scales at which projects might be implemented and managed, allowing for variables and thinking about a modular approach. Please make sure to check that page.

Determining the type and source of the materials will be critical if you’re allocating transportation of materials for construction. I suggest you explore materials that are already existing on the island. Assuming you’re interested in transporting materials from Cairns, please check the existing discussion thread about Sea Swift’s services.

I hope this helps!

Regards,
Jean

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Coen & the rest of the Rockhampton group 5,

Please see our comments below:

1. What are the existing energy sources? 
The island currently relies on a combination of diesel generator sets and solar panels primarily used for heating water. This hybrid approach helps balance the reliability of diesel generators with the sustainability benefits of solar power.

2. How are these sources fueled/repaired? 
Sea Swift transport services transport the fuel for the diesel generators to the island and deliver it to the local dump. Ergon Energy handles the maintenance and operational management of the generator sets, ensuring that the equipment remains functional and efficient.

3. What is an appropriate budget, or will we need to calculate our own? 
For your project, you must calculate your budget, which will involve estimating the costs of materials, transportation, installation, and ongoing maintenance. A thorough budget calculation is a valuable part of your project, as it reflects real-world planning and resource management. Please check our EWB Challenge FAQS for more tips on how to approach budget concerns.

4. What is the island’s energy consumption? 
While specific data for the island might not be readily available, you can make educated estimates by extrapolating from Queensland’s overall energy consumption based on the island’s population. This method will give you a ballpark figure for your project planning.

5. How often are the generators turned on (if generators are used)? 
The diesel generators are typically turned on as needed, particularly to power essential services such as the clinic. The exact frequency can vary based on demand and other available power sources, such as solar energy during sunny periods.

6. What are the island’s current carbon emissions? 
We do not have specific data on the island’s carbon emissions. However, you can estimate these emissions by analyzing the fuel consumption of diesel generators and other energy sources. Tools and formulas for calculating carbon emissions from fuel use are widely available and can provide a reasonable estimate.

7. Do these emission levels need to be lower? 
Yes, there is a recognized need to reduce carbon emissions. Lowering emissions aligns with broader environmental goals and sustainability initiatives. Your project could explore ways to enhance energy efficiency, increase the use of renewable energy sources, and minimize reliance on fossil fuels.

Also, please do check existing threads in this design area by using the search bar!

All the best in your project,
Sai & Jean

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Scott,

Great thought! While requesting them for a quote may be a convenient move, it’s certainly an unnecessary work for them.

I found some resources for you where you can base the pricing for shipping goods on Saibai Island. They’re probably outdated, but for the purpose of estimating costs, it’s still a good source of baseline information:

UNDERSTANDING CLIMATE CHANGE DRIVEN COASTAL EROSION AND INUNDATION IMPACTS ON TORRES STRAIT COMMUNITIES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADAPTATION OPTIONS – see page 53 & Appendix 3
Sea Swift’s Customer Freight Guide (2017)
TSIRC’s response to Inquiry Into A Sustainable Queensland Intrastate Shipping Industry (2019)

I hope this helps!

Regards,
Jean

• This reply was modified 6 months, 3 weeks ago by Jean Aquinde.

[Scott McphersonParticipant]

Do we know what it costs to send a 20 ft container of general freight to the Island on sea swift barge. Their website doesn’t have pricing and I don’t think we should be inundating them with quotes for items that may never be sent.

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Cameron,

You can find plenty of resources online! Although you may not see exactly what boats are used on Saibai Island, you may find similar boats used around Torres Strait, which could be a good reference for your design. For example, you can research the commercial vessels of Sea Swift, ferry boats of tour services, and dinghies from people who are selling them online.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Jean

[Jean AquindeKeymaster]

Hi Darcy, Danny and Ethan,

Thanks for your patience! We’ve been in touch with TSIRC staff, and they’ve explained that the process of determining the cost of fuel shipment is quite intricate. They pay for the shipment in bulk, which includes other items that are also being shipped. This complexity makes it challenging to provide a straightforward answer to your question.

Due to this factor, fuel prices are generally expected to be higher in the Torres Strait. To see the latest fuel prices here, check TSIRC’s commercial fuel fees.

If you want to dive deeper into guidelines for transporting fuels on the island, check out these references:
> Transporting dangerous goods in Queensland
> Seaswift’s Freight Preparation & Packaging Guide 2024

Regards,
Jean

How are the residents transporting delivered goods from the sea swift delivery when they arrive on the shore? Are vans or other vehicles being used to distribute goods/any trucks etc?

[Sai Rupa DevKeymaster]

Hi Darcy,

(Love the team name)
– 2000 litres of Diesel can be stored in a single bowser
– The answer is it varies, depends on the seasons, cultural events, border closures etc.
– Fuel is delivered via 200 lt drums, it is delivered via Seaswift. My understanding is they do a mass transport to northwestern islands, depending on how much diesel is left over in each bowser per island
– I’m unsure about the cost of shipment, I’ll reach out and get back to you.

Cheers,
Sai

[Sai Rupa DevKeymaster]

Hi Mateusz,

Seaswift is the main supplier of cargo and freezer/chiller supplies (mostly food supplies). They usually move supplies around all of the Torres Strait Islands at a set schedule – which is available on their website (Saibai is part of top western cluster).

If you look at the interactives -> Jetty/Boat ramp section, There is a photo of what the vessel looks like, you can make assumptions based on that.

For the marine dock infra, TSIRC owns the barge ramp and SeaSwift pays them a certain fee (which might be available online, if you have a brief search). Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Sai