UTC Completes Multimodal Delivery for Sustainable Energy Plan in Bremen
UTC Overseas offices in Bremen, Germany, and Helsinki, Finland recently completed a large multimodal delivery of nine oversized, overweight gensets to a new power plant in Bremen.
Working with a long-time client, planning for the multimodal project began a year in advance. Locations, equipment, weather, and risks were assessed in order to develop a thorough and efficient transport plan.
The shipment consisted of nine gen-sets, each weighing 185,000 kgs and measuring 1450 x 420 x 505 cm. A power plant in Bremen was converting from coal to gas by installing gas drives. The transfer to a more sustainable energy source will move the plant closer to meeting its environmental targets and help the state and city of Bremen achieve its goal of decreasing emissions up to 75%.
UTC's pre-planning ensured proper delivery sequencing of each genset.
The journey began in Vaasa, Finland, with UTC's Jan Schmitt and Juha Karmanto loading the cargo onto the MV Travetal for on-carriage to the port in Bremen. Sequencing was critical from start to finish as each unit had a serial number and had to be placed in the proper order as they were secured and readied for departure. The 185,000kg units were delivered to the port of Bremen-Neustadter Hafen, where they were stored for a few days and then transferred to three barges for the last leg of the trip down the Weser River.
SPMTs overcame a 6% incline to deliver each genset from barge to foundation.
Upon arrival of the barges, the gensets were offloaded at the site-owned pier, which had been evaluated and subsequently reinforced. Due to rising water levels, the power plant was elevated and surrounded by a flood protection wall and a ramp with a 6% incline, which made the final part of the transport more difficult. The units were hoisted by two 500 ton cranes that transferred the Gensets onto a 12 axle SPMT (self-propelled modular transporter) waiting on the ramp in a leveled position, driven up to the powerhouse, and moved into each motor cell for setting on the foundation.
UTC guarantees unparalleled attention to detail - down to the millimeter.
The 185,000kg gensets had to be lowered onto the foundation and carefully aligned within millimeters of the required specifications, by a new and unique lifting system that was developed and designed in conjunction with UTC partner Riga.
"The job at the plant, from start to finish, was originally estimated to take nine days. With advanced planning and mapping of proper procedures, it was completed in 6 days. This allowed our client to begin installing additional modules, pipes, and other equipment earlier than expected," stated Sven Binder, UTC General Manager Projects.
"Close cooperation and constant communication between UTC Germany, UTC Finland, the customer, and the consignee, allowed us to work swiftly and efficiently. Precise planning and thorough risk assessments, taking into account all contingencies, allowed the UTC team to keep the cargo moving like clockwork through each phase of this challenging transport. The result was a job well done, completed ahead of schedule, and a happy customer," recounts Ralf Boese, UTC General Manager of European Heavy and Special Transport Division.
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