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UTC sets new standard for ro-ro charters

Tag: Breakbulk

UTC sets new standard for ro-ro charters

April 18, 2024
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| Categories: Point2Point

UTC Sets New Standard with Massive Ro-Ro Charter

UTC recently transported a full charter of material handling machines for long-time customer and trusted partner, Sennebogen. 

UTC's Heavy Equipment Division coordinated the transport of 81 Sennebogen cranes on the Leo Leader, a chartered ro-ro vessel, from Bremerhaven, Germany to Charleston, South Carolina, setting a new standard for complexity and scale.

charted ro-ro vessel
Sennebogen cranes
freight tons

For 18 years, UTC has been transporting Sennebogen’s cargo to North America, building on their long-standing relationship based on trust, honesty, and confidence in each other’s abilities. UTC devised this ambitious chartering plan to safely move a large volume of equipment while being economically sound.

Departure from Bremerhaven

The journey began in Bremerhaven, Germany, as the Leo Leader set sail with unique cargo – the main deck completely filled with 81 Sennebogen material handling machines. UTC’s established relationships with shipping lines played a pivotal role in securing the necessary Ro-Ro space, a coveted commodity in an industry experiencing record movements of cranes and agriculture equipment.

The massive undertaking required meticulous planning and coordination to ensure the sheer size and weight of the shipment could be transported and loaded safely.  Multiple staging areas were set up dockside and positioned at the ready to complete the loading in one day.

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Challenges & Triumphs

The magnitude of the operation was enormous, with approximately 10,000 freight tons of machinery requiring precise loading so each piece could drive on and subsequently and efficiently drive off at the final destination.

Over 80 trucks transported the equipment to the port, a process that took time to plan due to the necessity of obtaining permits and setting up staging areas. Permitting in Germany is complex and lengthy, but the UTC Bremen office has longstanding relationships with truckers and the port allowing them to expedite the process.

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Loading intricacies

Patrik Meyer, UTC Manager – Heavy Equipment Development, who was on-site and directing the operation, recounts, “The loading process presented unique challenges, with every piece of machinery requiring specific positioning on the vessel. UTC has moved volumes of Sennebogen machines over the years and was familiar with each model, aiding in the proper placement of the valuable cargo. Blueprints were sent ahead of time, allowing for exact planning to ensure each unit could maneuver moving on and off the vessel, always considering the safety of the crew and equipment.”

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Units were carefully placed within inches of each other to guarantee everything fit in their tight, preassigned location. In addition to the efficient use of space, the cargo’s precise weight and size were crucial for proper balancing of the vessel.

Charter complexities

The Leo Leader faced unexpected delays when it encountered a storm and two hurricanes, highlighting the complexities of managing transportation in the face of unpredictable weather.

In addition, the cargo’s final destination changed after the paperwork was complete. This necessitated swiftly revising documents for 81 pieces of equipment to clear customs.

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Unloading in Charleston

UTC’s team scoped out the port before the vessel arrived in Charleston. This familiarity with the port’s setup and operations resulted in a solid, risk-free plan for discharge that led to a targeted, smooth process. The Sennebogen cargo, consisting of 79 assembled units, two unassembled units, and static cargo, was efficiently unloaded within the strict deadline.

The unloading began at 7:00 AM. The port actioned two to three people to unhook the cargo and two to three to drive and guide the units off the vessel. Multiple teams worked with precision in shifts that proceeded until 10:00 PM when all the cargo had safely moved to staging areas. The operation required careful coordination between port personnel, truck drivers, and UTC’s team to meet the vessel’s departure schedule.

A Flawless UTC Operation

Hans Meyer, UTC COO Heavy Equipment and Specialized Cargo, was proud of his team’s work. “The successful Ro-Ro charter of the Leo Leader stands as a testament to the expertise and dedication of UTC in tackling challenging logistical operations. The six-month planning process, attention to detail, and longstanding partnership with Sennebogen, the shipping lines, and the port all played pivotal roles in the operation’s success.”

Strong 18-year relationship

Constantino Lannes, President and CEO of Sennebogen North America, praised the seamless execution of the operation. “Chartering the Leo Leader was a tremendous task together with UTC to secure all this space and make sure we could deliver our machines to our customers when they expect them. We have worked with UTC for 18 years, and it has been tremendous cooperation. UTC takes care of the transportation of all our machines from Europe to the United States.”

UTC's heavy equipment team has specialized knowledge of your equipment, allowing us to provide the most innovative and cost-saving logistics solutions.

Contact us today!

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Time-sensitive air charter

April 1, 2023
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| Categories: Point2Point

utc arranges time sensitive air charter from egypt

UTCs air freight experts recently arranged a charter to transport aero-derivative gas turbines from Egypt to Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Originating in Cairo and Sharm el Sheikh, the units were flown to Chicago O'Hare. Once they arrived, UTC further coordinated the last-mile transport to multiple destinations to support power stations.

turbines
pounds each
x 102 x 102"

Turbines were packed in specialized shipping cans for air charter transport

In total, the transport included three turbines that are components of power packs. Each pack contains a turbine, transformer, generator, and control unit. The turbines measured 218" x 102" x 102" and weighed 28,660 pounds each.

The gas turbines were transported in specialized shipping cans - hard, heavy-duty protective cases - designed to move power generation equipment.

The empty cans were transloaded onto trailers via four lifting eyes prior to placing the turbines. When the cans are fully loaded, the lifting procedure is adjusted to include a lifting bar and lashing to properly support the weight of the turbine.

Once loaded, the cans are pumped with nitrogen to displace oxygen, and sealed. These containers control the inside environment to keep out moisture and salt, which can be corrosive and damaging to expensive equipment.

LM6000 Turbines
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Engineers weigh in: determining the best plane for the job

Based on the dimensions of the turbines and shipping cans, UTC's team began looking for the best airfreight solution. A charter was arranged using the IL-76, a heavy-lift cargo aircraft that UTC engineers deemed most suitable for the job. It is a workhorse used to transport cargo and troops, and for aerial refueling and firefighting.

The IL-76's cabin size is large, able to accommodate approximately 160 cubic meters, with a payload capacity of 50 tons. The tail cargo door has expanding loading ramps, and the cabin is equipped with two electric winches, each with three-ton traction, and four electric hoists with a pulling capacity of up to 10 tons. Due to its size and the onboard equipment, it was the most efficient choice for the quick turnaround needed.

UTC moves this type of equipment on a regular basis, but this door-to-door move presented several notable challenges. An unusually short unloading time span, coordinating multiple international teams, and complicated paperwork added to the complexity of this job.

Shipping can rendering II
IL-76 airplane on tarmac, blue skies in background. Urgent air charter to Egypt.

Challenge accepted: Air charter team executes plan flawlessly in face of tight unloading time frame

Arrangements began months in advance. Due to the flight crew's time constraints, they had only two hours on the ground. Each step in the process had to be performed with great precision since there was no time to spare in executing the plan.

UTC's Air Charter team was on the ground to carefully oversee the operation. Pre-coordination was key to getting the units ready to load quickly. The necessary equipment for loading and the handling crew had to be onsite and ready to spring into action.

Prior to the units landing, specialized trucks, airport storage, forklifts, security, ex-rays, airport clearance, and a myriad of other tasks were coordinated and ready. Proper paperwork, permits, certificates, and inspections were key to keeping the operation running swiftly.

UTC Overseas Air Charter Team
IL76_LM6000 CROP

Behind the scenes of an air charter transport: mobilizing cranes, forklifts, heavy duty-trucks and more

UTC provided a variety of services critical to the success of this project: customs, engineering, air freight, ground transportation, rigging, and more.

UTC's team worked closely with the engineers from Silkway Airlines to craft a loading and unloading plan for the IL76. Despite the complex paperwork involved, UTC's team arranged customs clearance, which was critical to allow for unloading.

Special ground handling equipment was required at three airports and both job sites. A 50T mobile crane with a spreader bar and rigging kit distributed pressure to avoid direct contact with container walls.

A 20T forklift with long forks for extensions, a 16T capacity forklift, three air ride flatbed trailers, airport dollies and pallets, heavy-duty trucks, and two main deck loaders assembled as a train to extend the length of the work surface were all necessary to the success of the project.

LM6000 cans unloading at port
full shipping can being loaded onto a trailer. loading beam and lashing support weight of full container. These were transported from Egypt to USA via air charter.

UTC has the knowledge and expertise to perform these transports under all types of adverse conditions. Despite the time-sensitive nature of this project, our international team had the know-how and boots on the ground to execute this plan to our customer's satisfaction.

UTC's air charter team has specialized knowledge of your equipment, allowing us to provide the most innovative and cost-saving logistics solutions.

Contact us today!

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+100K FRT GLOBAL CEMENT TRANSPORT

September 8, 2022
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| Categories: Point2Point
multimodal cement plant delivery - modular cement plant parts being transported via multimodal logistics solution

UTC's Global Cement Division managed the transport of over 100,000 freight tons of equipment for one of the largest cement plants in the USA.

Multiple modalities were used for hundreds of shipments, some with pieces over 25', arriving from China, India, Germany, Italy, Romania, Turkey, Egypt, and Mexico.

freight tons
hopper barges
truckloads

With equipment heights over 25ft, the main transportation challenge was shipping major components in the largest configuration possible.

Planning began in 2019 with detailed route and feasibility studies, risk assessments, and evaluation of discharge ports.

Transporting equipment to the job site, located deep in the US Heartland, required intricate planning and creative solutions. To ensure all parties stayed informed in real-time, UTC created a customized portal for the client where information on the project was available. This enabled teams worldwide to address challenges and implement contingency plans quickly. Constant communication with a myriad of local authorities during last-mile transport, including utilities and cable companies, ensured the success of this complex project.

Out-of-gauge ocean freight to the Port of New Orleans via 12 charter vessels

The largest pieces originated in China, where they were barged to the Ports of Shanghai and Tianjin and loaded onto 12 charter vessels headed for the Port of New Orleans. Shipping the largest parts from China proved to be complex due to COVID lockdowns and unexpected last-minute restrictions. Port congestion, labor shortages, lack of raw materials, and quarantine requirements for cargo originating in active COVID regions posed challenges. UTC was able to call on existing relationships with carriers to secure space, contain vessel detention costs, and postpone shipment dates when cargo was not available for loading.

5 UTC Handles 100K+ frt Multimodal Cement Plant Delivery 5

The next challenge: critical cargo urgently needed

Critical pieces of cargo became available in Chennai, India, in late 2021 and were urgently needed to meet the construction schedule. UTC’s team in India immediately began evaluating alternative options for time- and cost-effective transport, taking into account extremely tight capacity and heavy monsoon rains. UTC determined the best strategy would be to truck the equipment to Mumbai, where it would be loaded onto four ro-ro vessels.

Other major OOG cargo originated in Romania, Italy, Turkey, and Germany and were shipped to the US via breakbulk vessels, with some smaller parts and accessories shipped via airfreight. Additional parts and accessories out of Mexico were transported overland via 150 truckloads to the site in Mitchell. UTC handled customs at the border.

Barge transport up the Mississippi River

Once the oversized cargo was discharged in the US, it was loaded onto 37 chartered hopper barges for transport to the Port of Jeffersonville. UTC scouted multiple locations to determine the final destination port, considering supply chain delays, port congestion, adverse weather events, and more. Port of Jeffersonville was chosen because of its proximity to the job site and ease of entering highways with oversized equipment.

Deliveries of large-scale projects like this are usually carefully sequenced so equipment and parts arrive in the order they are installed. However, with COVID lockdowns, supplier delays, and shipping backlogs causing significant uncertainty in production and delivery schedules, UTC took delivery of parts as soon as they were available, storing them at the port until needed at the plant.

2 UTC Loading FINAL_Moment 4

Last-mile delivery: Interfacing with local utilities, DOT, & wildlife authorities

UTC consulted with local utilities, DOT, and wildlife authorities to ensure the last-mile transport of hundreds of oversized pieces spanning 24 months would not interfere with the local community and surrounding habitats.

Before transporting any equipment, UTC engaged with Indiana DOT (INDOT) to analyze last-mile route options.

Once a 71.7-mile route was established, UTC entered into a $4M bond with INDOT, allowing site revisions and travel route modifications to accommodate oversized cargo. UTC representatives and DOT contractors traveled the entire route, measuring and identifying all communications and electric lines and overhanging obstacles. Working with additional contractors, utility wires and poles, traffic lights, highway signs, and digital messaging boards were temporarily lifted or removed during transports. Most larger utilities authorized Kenco to raise their wires, but several REMCs required their engineers to be on-site to ensure the safety of their lines. Several major telecoms and electric cables leading up to Chicago were along the route, meaning utmost care had to be taken to avoid widespread disruptions. With careful planning and precise attention to detail, all oversized pieces of equipment were moved without incident.

INDOT required that any cargo over 18’ tall must be transported overnight.

The largest pieces came in steel crating to facilitate loading and provide protection. However, the crating made round, tapered pieces into otherwise square cargo, which would need significantly more overhead clearance. By cutting and removing top portions of the crating, several pieces were transported without stretching utility lines or removing overhanging obstacles. These were trucked using specialized perimetral trailers, which provided additional height clearance due to their very low base. They moved in convoys of 2-3 loads to further minimize movement of utility lines and obstacles. Multiple packages were so wide, the roads so narrow, and the placement of telephone poles close to the street that there were just inches of clearance at certain times.

Last-mile transportation of these oversized pieces endured the depths of winter through ice storms and snow, through spring rains, and into the hot summer, or bat season.

Since the Indiana bat is an endangered species and an integral part of the local ecosystem, UTC interfaced with local wildlife authorities to ensure that continuous overnight transports of oversized equipment would not disrupt the population, which make their home in the hardwood trees lining the route.

UTC’s strength is adapting to the client’s needs, which changed as the project progressed. The pandemic, lockdowns, port closures, reduced labor pools, escalating shipping costs, and vessel availability were all contributing factors. Contingency planning for these types of disruptions is fundamental in executing a project of this magnitude. Fortunately for UTC’s Cement Division, their skill, years of experience, and advanced planning allowed the freight to move uninterrupted. The job was well-executed, safely, and on time.

4 UTC Handles 100K+ frt Multimodal Cement Plant Delivery 2
3 UTC Handles 100K+ Freight Ton Multimodal Cement Plant Expansion Delivery Image 7
7 UTC Handles 100K+ Freight Ton Multimodal Cement Plant Expansion Delivery Image 8

UTC's logistics teams have specialized knowledge of your equipment, allowing us to provide the most innovative and cost-saving logistics solutions.

Contact Us Today

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UTC sets new standard for ro-ro charters

UTC arranged an air charter & last mile transport for 3 aero-derivative gas turbines from Egypt to Chicago, Illinois, USA, supporting multiple power stations.

Time-sensitive air charter

UTC arranged an air charter & last mile transport for 3 aero-derivative gas turbines from Egypt to Chicago, Illinois, USA, supporting multiple power stations.

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+100K FRT GLOBAL CEMENT TRANSPORT

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Chile Solar Plant Transport

August 25, 2021
| No Comments
| Categories: Point2Point
featured image showing UTC Managing transport for a Chilean Solar Plant

UTC Manages Transport For

CHILEAN SOLAR PLANT

UTC Chile recently moved a three-phase power transformer across South America for a long-time client.

Manufactured in Brazil, the unit was transported to the Atacama Desert in Chile for installation in a substation that is part of a large solar plant project in the region.

Featured image showing the UTC Overseas transport team using cranes to lift a transformer.

Oversized cargo require specialized equipment for lifting and discharge

The heavy, over-dimensional transformer weighed 135.2 MT and measured 840 x 360 x 495 cm.  Also included in the transport were accessories, spare parts, and oil, packed in 8-40' containers.  The cargo shipped as breakbulk on a container vessel.

UTC used a Gottwald Mobile Harbor Crane with tandem lift to discharge the cargo from the vessel.  The oversized transformer was hoisted and loaded onto a drop deck 12-axle Goldhofer modular trailer.  Additionally, police escorts and road permits were critical in moving the heavy cargo.

Preplanning, including a feasibility study and risk assessment, began months ahead

The move involved transporting the unit from the destination port to the final job site and placing it onto the foundation. An Enerpac Jack and Slide system, under the supervision of the UTC team, was used to complete this part of the job.

A route survey was conducted to ensure roads and bridges could accommodate this oversized load. The discharge of a heavy transformer is a delicate process, and swells at the port can hamper operations. Due to frequent swells occurring at the destination port, careful planning and monitoring were necessary to ensure the discharge took place at just the right time to minimize risks.

Chile has created one of the world's most important solar power markets

The country has almost 75% of the installed solar power capacity in Latin America despite having only 3% of the population.

Introduced in 2015, Chile's Ministry of Energy announced its Roadmap to 2050: A Sustainable and Inclusive Strategy, which plans for 19% of the country's electricity to come from solar energy by 2050. With the Atacama Desert possessing some of the most extensive solar power capabilities in the world, there are a number of additional projects under construction in the region, with many more planned.

"When transporting a heavy, oversized piece such as this, many moving parts must come together to form an efficient, risk-free plan. Working in cooperation with our partners, we had constant communication allowing this job to run seamlessly. That is the UTC way," states Marco Intemann, UTC Chile Branch Manager.

UTC's dedicated transformer team has specialized knowledge of your equipment, allowing us to provide the most innovative and cost-saving logistics solutions.

Contact us today!

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