UTC sets new standard for ro-ro charters

April 18, 2024

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

Time-sensitive air charter

April 1, 2023

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

UTC Sets New Heavylift Record

January 17, 2023

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utc overcomes mounting challenges for greenfield project in colombia

UTC's global heavy lift experts coordinated the transportation of the heaviest cargo ever mobilized on Colombian roads.

Over the last two years, a team of UTC Overseas professionals has been transporting the equipment needed to operate the new El Tesorito power plant in Cordoba Province, Colombia. Having worked on many greenfield projects before, these specialists had the knowledge, experience, and contacts to arrange ocean transport, loading and unloading, port manipulation, storage, on-carriage, and discharge onto the foundation.

gen-sets

Heaviest Piece:

tons

Additional

containers

Diligent planning and precise execution were vital in carrying out the operation

UTC’s skilled crew took care of every detail, locating the port nearest the job site so the motors could ship fully assembled, saving the customer considerable time and money. The equipment would travel to the Port of Tolú, a breakbulk and project cargo facility with the capacity and infrastructure to handle the equipment efficiently.

Starting out as breakbulk cargo on multi-purpose vessels, the equipment began the first leg of the journey. The first shipment contained 11 generators weighing 72 tons each, along with 8,845 cubic meters of additional equipment. The second vessel carried three transformers, 97 tons each, and 460 cubic meters of accessories. The third vessel transported 11 assembled engines which were 300 tons each and six meters high. The oversized and overweight cargo originated in Brazil, Bolivia, the U.S., Finland, Italy, and Mexico. In addition to the equipment, there were over 400 containers of related material.

Challenges Mounting: Adverse weather, pandemic supply chain disruptions & holiday chaos factor in

With any large-scale EPC contract, there are many challenges to overcome, but this one was compounded by the Christmas and New Year holidays, the pandemic, and supply chain disruptions. A host of new, unfamiliar situations arose, such as port closings, labor shortages, and strict distancing and sanitary procedures. Weather also contributed as much of this move occurred during the rainy season.

Despite advance planning and extensive road surveys, unannounced road construction began on the planned route to the job site, so alternate plans had to be devised quickly. Security measures were developed and implemented for the new route ensuring safe passage for the personnel and equipment in the caravans.

The available bridge that led to the construction site could not hold the weight of the assembled units. The bridge needed reinforcing to allow safe passage. Due to excessive rain, the roads were muddy, and the river created high currents. The elevated water levels made excavation difficult, so a dam was constructed to impede the water flow. This type of work requires environmental licenses stipulating that everything must be returned to its natural state when work is completed. Due to this, the bridge reinforcements were deconstructed after the final equipment delivery.

Last-mile transport: Local regulations & outreach

Abiding by local laws and regulations is essential when completing any project. This one went one step beyond, though. UTC was traversing rural communities with limited resources. Electricity had to be taken off-line for six-hour stretches each time a caravan of trucks moved through one of the towns. It was a hard sell to win over the locals and garner support for the project. The impact on the region was significant, but the long-term improvements would more than make up for the temporary disruptions.

UTC professionals became diplomats, meeting and discussing concerns with the local communities. Ignacio Benedetti, UTC Regional Director West Coast Latam, recounts some of the meetings. “This was a socially sensitive project. Power was interrupted as lines were moved to allow the large pieces to travel through towns on national roads. Generator backup did not exist, meaning residents and businesses were without power and water for long stretches - this happened multiple times over the course of a few months. We met with community leaders, business owners, and utility companies to explain the benefits of the project and the government’s investment in improving energy services. We shared an explanatory video to educate all concerned parties on the benefits of building up power resources in the area. To further complicate the situation, election training took place during one span of the project, and alternative energy sources had to be supplied so the training could be completed in time for election day.”

Breaking records to support energy transition to renewables

“The weight of the units was massive and set a new record for the heaviest pieces mobilized on Colombian roads. To receive the necessary transport permits, bridge and infrastructure impact studies were required, and a route study and pavement calculations had to be completed to ensure weight compliance guidelines outlined in the permits were not exceeded. A thorough traffic control plan was also required, as was coordination with utility companies responsible for lifting the power, internet, and phone lines in the towns along the route. Equipment moved using Prime Movers. Their large turning radius precluded them from entering the facility, so the oversized equipment was transferred to SPMT to reach the foundations,” says Jorge Duarte, UTC Project Manager.

El Tesorito will provide critical grid balancing capacity to supplement intermittent energy derived from renewable sources such as solar and wind and help the grid cope with varying weather conditions. In case of a shortage, it will also be available to provide backup power. It is an important project to support the energy grid in the region. The plant complies with strict environmental regulations and creates operational and maintenance jobs for the local population in this rural region.

UTC’s teams of experts successfully handled the myriad of obstacles that presented themselves throughout the execution of the project overcoming the challenges and delivering on time.

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

Check out UTC's Project Showcases & Industry Insights:

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.

heaviest cargo ever mobilized in colombia - fully assembled 300t engines

UTC Sets New Heavylift Record

utc overcomes mounting challenges for greenfield project in colombia UTC’s global heavy lift experts coordinated the transportation of the heaviest cargo ever mobilized on Colombian roads. Over the last two years, a team of UTC Overseas professionals has been transporting the equipment needed to operate the new El Tesorito power plant in Cordoba Province, Colombia. Having worked on many greenfield projects before, these specialists had the knowledge, experience, and contacts to arrange ocean transport, loading and unloading, port manipulation, storage, on-carriage, and discharge onto the foundation. 11 gen-sets Heaviest Piece: 300 tons Additional 400 containers Diligent planning and precise execution…

multimodal cement plant delivery - modular cement plant parts being transported via multimodal logistics solution

+100K FRT GLOBAL CEMENT TRANSPORT

UTC Handles +100K frt Multimodal Cement Plant Delivery 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. 100,000 freight tons 37 hopper barges 150 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…

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256MT Crane Transport

UTC Manages 256MT Crane Transport: No Assembly Required UTC recently coordinated the transport of a Gottwald Mobile Harbor Crane from Texas to Florida. By thinking outside the box, UTC’s Heavy Equipment Team developed a solution to transport the crane fully assembled, in a fraction of the time. 256 MT 130 ft tall 5 days UTC rolls on and rolls off fully assembled Gottwald Crane UTC routinely transports oversize, overweight cargo, but this move was different. The 256 MT Gottwald Mobile Harbor Crane that stands 130′ high was driven directly onto a barge for a five-day trip from Brownsville, Texas, to…

L-R: Leslie Bowlin (Exec. Dir HMC), Sara Howell, Marco Poisler (COO Global Energy & Capital Projects, UTC Overseas), Former Sec. Energy Ernest Moniz, Margaret A. Kidd, MILT, CPE (Program Director, Supply Chain & Logistics Technology, University of Houston) at Houston Maritime Museum event on Energy Transition, Hydrogen Power, Evolution of Maritime Transportation & Energy, Workforce Development

Breaking News

“The goal is, let’s have this transition, which let’s face it, is massive to accomplish, without stranding workers, without stranding communities,” said Moniz, who spoke at Houston Maritime Center upon being presented the HMC Maritime Education Award in early March. “And for that to work we have to put the people to work that have the skillset.”

Chile Solar Plant Transport

August 25, 2021

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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.

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.

Departure from Bremerhaven

Loading intricacies

Charter complexities

Unloading in Charleston

A Flawless UTC Operation

Strong 18-year relationship

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

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.

Turbines were packed in specialized shipping cans for air charter transport

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

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

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

utc overcomes mounting challenges for greenfield project in colombia

UTC's global heavy lift experts coordinated the transportation of the heaviest cargo ever mobilized on Colombian roads.

Diligent planning and precise execution were vital in carrying out the operation

Challenges Mounting: Adverse weather, pandemic supply chain disruptions & holiday chaos factor in

Last-mile transport: Local regulations & outreach

Breaking records to support energy transition to renewables

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

Check out UTC's Project Showcases & Industry Insights:

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.

Oversized cargo require specialized equipment for lifting and discharge

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

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

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

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