Heavy Cargo News

Express Global Logistics (EXG), member to the Worldwide Project Consortium (WWPC) in India, completed another challenging project logistics operation, showcasing the company´s expertise in handling oversized and heavy cargo transportation. The recent multimodal shipment of critical processing equipment from ⁠a site located in the northwestern part of India to a port on the country´s west coast demonstrates EXG´s commitment to delivering comprehensive end-to-end logistics solutions.

In a project overview a company spokesperson explained:

CARGO OVERVIEW
The shipment comprised two massive components:

Ammonia Converter
Dimensions: 30 × 4.25 × 4.9 m
Weight: 530 metric tons
Transport configuration: 22 side-by-side axle lines

Ammonia Unitized Chiller
Dimensions: 26 × 4.5 × 5 m
Weight: 220 metric tons
Transport configuration: 15 axle lines

SCOPE OF SERVICES
EXG’s comprehensive scope for this project included:

Land transportation of both units from the workshop to a captive jetty.
Specialized loadout operations onto a 180-class cargo barge.
Professional sea fastening to ensure cargo stability during marine transit.
Barging from a captive jetty from the north west of India to a port on the west coast.
Complete project supervision and coordination.

TECHNICAL EXECUTION
Our engineering team meticulously planned every aspect of this multimodal transportation:

Land Movement Phase: The initial phase involved transporting the massive converter and chiller units from the workshop to the captive jetty using specialized hydraulic axle trailers. The 530MT converter required 22 side-by-side axle lines to distribute the extraordinary weight, while the 220MT chiller was transported using 15 axle lines.

Preparation of jetty: Correct placement of the barge according to the tide and time is crucial to ensure we do not miss the tide.

Marine Operations: At the jetty, our team executed a precision loadout of both components onto a 180-class cargo barge. Our experienced marine engineers implemented comprehensive sea fastening protocols to secure the cargo for the subsequent sea journey to the northwestern part of India. Since this was a beaching operation, it was critical to adhere to the tidal variations and complete load out in the required time lines. The roll-on operations were flawless and all timeframes were met resulting in successful loadout.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
This project presented several significant challenges that our team successfully navigated:

Dimensional Complexity: The extraordinary dimensions of both components required specialized equipment and careful route planning to ensure safe passage.
Timeline Coordination: Our project managers worked diligently to synchronize the transportation schedule with concurrent civil work at various locations.
Infrastructure Modifications: Temporary road developments were necessary to accommodate the oversized cargo, particularly for the 30-meter converter.
Electrical shutdown: EXG coordinated with local authorities for temporary electrical shutdowns along the route to avoid overhead obstructions.