Introduction

The concept and requirement of Heavy-Lift Cargo (HLC) transportation in Middle

Eastern Countries has emerged after the invention of oil. Knowing the full potential of

oil, the impact it can have on the energy hungry world, directed the Arab world,

especially the Middle East Countries, to explore the sources of energy (oil and gas)

into more and more areas it would be discovered. The on-shore explorations and the

offshore explorations received equal importance. Collaborations with European and

American oil & gas multinational companies showed significant enthusiasm in the oil

and gas explorations in the Middle East Countries. Oil & gas explorations in the

Middle East were part of common agreements from 1960’s and 70’s onwards

between the Middle East countries and the Western World.

The Arab Countries in the Middle East like, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and

Oman and most recently Qatar pioneered the trend of modernization that are hungry

for progress recognition among the Arab World. These explorations brought more

discoveries of the oil & gas reserves and sources of resources. More revenues were

pumped into these countries in terms of the revenue generated by the oil and gas

exports. A growth upwards was visible. Simultaneously the growth of trade in the

related products and industry too witnessed tremendous growth. More constructions

in various fields were required mostly for the ever booming oil & gas projects, oil-rig

movements. Power- stations and sub-stations around would be a necessity as it

symbolizes the growth in several industries that invite large scale construction. Ship

building docks, Air ports and many similar constructions in the infrastructure are part

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of the development programs visualized by the visionary leaders of the Middle

Eastern Countries. All these types of constructions require Heavy Lift Cargoes of

various types and Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) movement as per the project requirements

is unavoidable. Transportation of Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) is vital in terms of such

timely project executions. And the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) transportation in the

Middle East regions became an off and on requirement for the construction

industries. According to the Logistics World News, dated 10 th-May-2007, “Over

dimensional cargo specialists, the worldwide project consortium, could expect strong

demand for it’s services during the next 12 months, fuelled by the need for power

plants, and oil and gas equipments” according to the organizations general manager

Kevin Stephens. Stephens told during the 7th Conference held in Cape Town, South

Africa that “Members have already demonstrated success in the movement of heavy-

lift, outsized cargo and this is generating new business as a worldwide project

consortium further consolidates its reputation as a truly global logistics problem

solver”. Yes, Heavy Lift Cargo Transportation field is generating new business

opportunities and newer challenges.

Heavy-Lift Cargo (HLC) transportation is the most difficult type of cargo

transportation in preparation, planning and implementation in it’s various modes of

cargo transportations. This is one of the most risk oriented types of cargo

transportations mainly due to it’s over-size, over-weight aspects. Clear vision as well

as the sound planning and professional execution for this type of transportation are

mandatory requirement for the successful completion of the job. During the last three

decades the Middle East countries witnessed tremendous improvement in the field of

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constructions, mostly in infrastructure build up, the construction of oil field platforms,

rig movements, power stations and substation build ups, roads, city planning,

construction of sea ports and air ports. Any successful project completion depends

on the contractor’s ability in delivering the correct material or shipping and

transporting the suitable machinery needed for the project in order to complete the

timely constructions.

Increased oil revenues generated by the oil exports, the Middle East countries

diverted to the field of construction. As a result regimes started to think an economy

not totally based on oil revenue. They gave ample importance to infrastructure

developments with the revenue that the windfall of oil price increase brought. As Ian

Bremmer says in International Herald Tribune, published on August-27 th-2005,

‘prices transform oil into a weapon’. He says ‘there are two reasons that the oil has

become an effective weapon. First, there is very little spare production capacity in

global oil markets. Both OPEC and non-OPEC countries are producing at close to full

tilt’.

Jerry Tailor and Peter VanDoren, in their joint article titled as ‘Oil Weapon Myth’ says

the impact the oil revenue making into the economies of several countries. The

Middle East countries are trying to provide it’s inhabitants with better living conditions

and amenities. All necessary facilities are being planned during the recent decades.

This trend invites so much of construction boon in every sector and this trend is to go

upward with more construction requirement and various types of projects.

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Logistics professionals worldwide believe that ‘to get a product in the right place,

right time, right quantity, in the best condition in an acceptable cost’ is being

visualized as a major challenge of logistics management’ World Cargo News by Jeff

Ashcroft. A commodity has of little value if it is not being available in the right time or

place one wish to have it.

Heavy-Lift Cargoes are mostly manufactured in Multi-national companies’ factories

or yards, (transformers, generators, gas and steam turbines, evaporator modules,

power cable drums, shunt reactors etc) or constructed in some convenient jetty or

docks of the contractor (oilfield rigs, platforms, MED units of energy companies etc.)

prior to transported to the construction sites or placed where the contractor wish to

have them, on to the transformer, reactor foundations.

Unlike the general break-bulk cargo transportation to the construction sites that an

efficient supply chain would execute successfully, Heavy-Lift cargo (HLC)

transportation would require elaborate preparation and planning from all parties

concerned right from the shipper’ premises at load port, comprising of shipper’s

forwarder shipping lines’ representative, Local Authorities and Government

departments who control the roads, and access routes closer coordination with load

port authorities for the efficient and safe handling of the Heavy-Lift cargo and safe

loading in particular on to the vessel. An effective and professional inland

transportation route survey from the exporters’ warehouse to the load port and from

the offload port to delivery site shall support as part of planning and coordinating

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among all parties concerned. In short, all interested parties in the Heavy Lift Cargo

transportation would contribute their best in terms of professionalism in the safe and

successful operation, handling and movement of Heavy Lift Cargo from one location

to the other.

While the Heavy-Lift Cargo ( HLC) in transit, the consignee and all concerned parties

at the discharge port plan and prepare themselves to receive the Heavy-Lift cargo

from the vessel safely to a secure storage area inside the sea port prior to moved to

the construction site for successful project execution and testing. All the conclusions

emerged during the planning process being recapped as part of the preparations to

receive the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC).

After the safe discharge of the Heavy- Lift Cargo to the sea port, the Consignee’s

forwarder and the forwarder or his agent, barge operator, and all other parties

interested will have to come into one umbrella and work out a safe schedule until the

Heavy-Lift reaches on to the specific work-site or on to the plinth of the foundations

designed by technical experts on behalf of the consignee.

In the following sections the definitions of Heavy-Lift cargo (HLC), how it is being

moved form the factories and construction jetty’s to the construction sites, what types

of vessels, cranes, trailers, professional workers’ skill-set requirements other

inevitable moving and skidding system requirements for the effective movement of

the Heavy- Lift cargo will be discussed and final recommendations would be provided

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for the improved handling and movement of the Heavy-Lift cargo with reference to

the Middle East circumstances.

‘An effective manager will be an effective coordinator’. The effective coordination is

the key to the success for any type of job especially for the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC)

transportation.

Oversized and Heavy-Lift Cargo Transportation needs massive and carefully detailed

preparation in to many technical aspects and effective coordination is of paramount

importance. Finding the optimum route is the most important task. Experts in this

fields works out several possible options in finding the shortest possible routes to

each shipment and offer the one that fits the specific cargo the best. Multimodal

transportation would be required, i.e. road-sea-road or road-river-road.

In spite of the general understanding that the coordination shall be at its perfect level

when we plan to carry out the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) transportation. The multi-

skilled engineers and the major parities of the supply chain process shall be well

aware of the actual schedule and movement of the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) in order

to achieve the effective and successful movement.

According to David J. House, in his book Marine Heavy Lift and Rigging Operations,

‘The movement of bulk cargoes, both dry and liquid has expanded considerably

alongside increased development in the third world especially in Middle East.

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However, this expansion has not been limited to just bulk cargoes. Containerization,

roll on, roll off and designated project cargoes are all sectors which have seen

increased activity in the field of heavy lifting practice’. He says ‘the lifting and

transportation of heavy weights has always been inherent with the maritime

industries. The need to ship excessive loads, in a highly competitive commercial

market is the need of the time.

He says ‘the Offshore industry in particular, generated probably the greatest interest

in modular construction for oil and gas installations around the world. It is from the

origins of early floating cranes, which later developed the multi-purpose crane

barges, floating sheer legs and salvage craft that has led to the massive activity and

development in our coastline regions. Installations being constructed to mammoth

proportions dominate the skylines of the world’.

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Chapter 1, Heavy-Lift Cargo Transportation-Definitions

U.S. Department of Defense defines (DOD) Heavy-Lift Cargo (HLC) as ‘Any

single piece of cargo lift, weighing over 5 long tons, and to be handled aboard

ship’. In the Marine Corporation’s usage, any Individual units of cargo that

exceed 800 pounds in weight or 100 cubic feet in volume’ can be called as

Heavy Lift. The website of eyefortransport.com describes heavy lift as’ Single

commodity exceeding the capacity of normal loading equipment and requiring

special equipment and rigging methods for handling’.

During the early decades of 20th Century, when there were inadequacy of lifting

and most modern equipments were not common, this could give a clear

understanding. I think the concept has a wider understanding in the later and

recent times. By the later half of 20th-Century the world witnessed tremendous

progress in the field of construction, especially the reconstruction of Europe after

the Second World War. The more the inventions in the transportation and lifting

gear industry, the shorter the risk and the world’s concept of Heavy Lift Cargo

(HLC).

Heavy-Lift Cargo (HLC) may include items such as large manufacturing

machines, power generation equipments like transformers, gas turbines, steam

turbines, windmills, power cable drums, reactors, high-voltage testing

equipments used for sub-station and power station testing, adapters, military

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equipments or any other oversized or overweight cargo like temporary

accommodations and caravans, too big or too heavy to fit into a container and

the gross weight is above the permitted tare weight of a 40’ft container for a

single piece.

The maximum permitted gross weight of a reefer or a flat-rack or high-cube

container during transit via ocean or road or rail is about 45 tons as permitted by

maritime operators, like shipping lines and transporters, and sea port authorities

worldwide in the transportation industry on a container load.

A Heavy Lift –Ship (HLS) is designed and capable of loading and unloading

heavy and bulky items. The ship has booms of sufficient capacity to

accommodate a single lift up to140 tons. But this capacity is improving year by

year. The heavy lift shipping companies like Beluga GmbH, Biglift shipping

company are investing their resources to build ships of 1400 ton lifting capacity

which is the latest additions. As per the news that is published in Biglift shipping

company website news, “In Dampier, Australia, m.v.”Enchanter” exchanged reels

with ESO Venturer, Technip’s installation vessel, working offshore Dampier. Two

full reels, weighing 240 metric ton each, had been loaded in Rosyth,UK, late

December-2006”. Thus we can witness tremendous improvements in the field of

heavy lift shipping in terms of the lifting capacity of the heavy lift vessels.

A 5 -6 ton weighing cargo would not always be a heavy-lift cargo, if it can

be kept inside any type of container, even on a flat-rack or open-top container

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and transported to different locations. If there is difficulty in stuffing the Heavy Lift

Cargo (HLC) into a container and moving it safely outside the container and can

be transported to the desired destinations treating it as break bulk or Heavy-Lift

Cargo (HLC) considering the weight and dimensions of that item and the way it is

being securely lashed within the parameters of a suitable container.

There are certain types of shunt reactors manufactured by Toshiba Corporation,

Japan, weighing about 24 to 30 tons a single piece, can not be transported on a

flat rack container even though the weight of the reactor is suitable for a flat rack

container the dimension does not fit with the container. Hence, it is to be shipped

and transported treating considering this as a Heavy-Lift Cargo (HLC).

Let us not mix Heavy-Lift cargo with abnormal cargo, over-dimensional cargo or

with break bulk cargo. Break bulk cargo is typically material stacked on wooden

pallets and lifted into and out of the hold of the vessel by the cranes on the dock

or aboard the ship.

Break bulk cargoes are usually the machine parts, transformer accessories,

reactor accessories, prefabricated construction materials, power generators

accessories, gas insulated switch gear, gas circuit breaker used in the sub

station, salt, oil, ore, and scrap metals etc are usually defined as commodities

that are neither on pallets nor in containers, and which are not handled as

individual pieces, the way heavy-lift and project cargoes are.

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The term cargo is used to denote goods or produce being transported generally

for commercial gain, usually on a ship, plane, train or a truck or a combination of

all. Nowadays containers are used in all inter-modal long-haul cargo transport.

Transportation can be defined as moving a cargo or any form of it from one

location to another location where the consignee wish them to have using any

mode of transport available by sea, air, train and land or the combination of the

above. In the wide sense of the term ‘ transportation’ we can even say that oil

and gas transit through the pipe lines is also a mode of transportation apart from

the traditional mode by air, sea and land. When selecting to use such a mode

fuel transportation ‘transit fee’ to be paid to the regional governments. Iran-India

gas pipe line project is one of the examples where Pakistan benefits transit fee

from the beneficiaries of this project for the permission given to these two

countries to construct the project pipe line through it’s waters-Arabian Sea.

Electricity transmission from the power stations to different sub stations to feed

different areas to can be said transmission but a type of transportation in the

wide sense of the term

At present Heavy-Lift transportation requirement in the Middle East mostly for the

importation of machineries and equipments required for completing various types

of oilfield, power station, substation projects in different sectors constitute the

major portion of the Heavy-Lift transportation requirement in general, in the

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Middle East. Military build up requires a huge part of Heavy-Lift movement and

the related logistics requirements can be kept aside for further discussion.

United Arab Emirates, State of Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of

Oman, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq are the Middle East countries where major portion of the

project related construction takes places. Save the current crisis in Iraq where

military build up headed by U.S. troops is a routine activity where most of the

tanks and the related military hard wares belong to the category of Heavy Lift.

Most of the other nations in the Middle East countries, project related

construction and related Heavy-Lift cargo transportation is part of the routine

construction program and it is vitally important in the progress of these nations.

Unlike the developed European countries, Middle East has witnessed in recent

years ample requirement for power and energy. Oil and Gas related explorations

in the offshore regions of the Middle East countries and the subsequent

exploration, oilfield platform movement, placing demands several Heavy Lift

cargo for the construction of projects on-shore and off-shore.

Qatar and United Arab Emirates in recent years, have planned for many

sophisticated multi-billion infrastructure projects, apart from the other Middle East

countries where development of it’s sea ports, air ports, sub stations, strategic

high ways, construction of rail ways, bridges and roads. Dubai metro rail way

project is one of the classic examples of such prestigious development that is

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scheduled to be operational in 2007. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japanese

Multinational being the winner of this prestigious project has invited it’s vital

partners to join hand in hand with the strategic movement of the metro rail

components that are mostly Heavy-Lift Cargo (HLC)

As much powers stations, sub stations and oilfield platforms these countries

build, or scheduled to have the more importation of Heavy-Lift cargoes and

transportation of such cargo increases it’s importance of Heavy Lift cargo

transportation and handling in the region.

Heavy-Lift cargo transportation is required for the Middle East more frequently

than before due to the trend of increased developments of these countries’

infrastructures. Infrastructure means, the sea ports, air ports, roads, bridges,

water desalination plants, power stations, substations, power cable projects and

the industrial infrastructural growth there by building air port free zones, sea port

free zones.

According to the Middle East Economic Survey published in 2004-July-12 th by Ali

Mezra ‘a construction boom is forth coming, which is initiated and fuelled by

sizable investment programs. This is bound to raise important policy issues and

unleash a host of economic and social consequences. Ensuring developments

take place within an economic structure that had been exposed to repeated

structural breaks. Our projections for the coming decade show that the

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commanding role of the oil revenues could continue, thus risking the perpetuation

of the rentier economy. On the other hand development efforts, especially during

the critical ten years ahead, will be threatened seriously by the looming burden of

dept and repartiation service. Based on our projections of the balance of

payments gap we find out that a reduction in external dept of about 80 % is

necessary to sustain development and growth. The envisaged new set of

institutional and policy changes will transform the closed economy to an open

one and would, most likely, improve economic efficiency. However, if not

augmented by deeper structural reforms the dependence on oil may continue.

The paper recommends a set of structural reforms in the education, economic

and social spheres that may enhance the opportunity for economic

diversification, which is not only necessary for sustainable economic

development but also equally import for social and political stability and

accountability.’

The Middle East Economic Survey by Ali Merza says, ‘After 1952’s so-called

profit-sharing agreements, rapidly rising share of oil in government revenues

started a process of enduring, far-reaching and reinforcing developments in

economic, political and social change. Between 1947 and 1977 the economy had

moved from a mainly rural society (66% of total population) depending almost

exclusively on the proceeds of oil exports. The toiling for scarce foreign

exchange in the past gave way to the leisure of getting the oil rent. Concurrently,

the state widened it’s domain in economic sphere through budgetary spending,

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i.e. construction of infrastructure and social capital and current expenditures

(1952-1963). Afterwards, the domain was widened further through encrochments

on the private sector and direct involvement in production.’

All the above socio-economic and political out looks of the Middle Eastern

countries gave ample impetus to construction boom in various scales and

shipping and transportation of specialized electrical, power and oil platforms to

and from various internal and international locations were routine for the project

completions.

As a matter of consolation, no major Heavy-Lift Cargo transportation related

accident has been reported so far in the Middle Eastern Countries due to the

professional use of trailers and equipments as part of the requirement. Most of

the technical expertise were being hired for accomplishing the related tasks were

being hired from the Globes major players in this field mostly western operators

who are pioneered the concept of Heavy Lift Cargo Transportation in the

European and American Continents.

Organizations can hardly afford to have any mishap during the Heavy Lift Cargo

(HLC) transportation. If some accident occurs, the repercussions thereby will be

very costly as well as drastic in terms of the possible loss of human lives and

damages to public or private properties. An incomplete or unfinished project will

bring bad overheads on the contractor and high operating expenses to the

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organization. Above all the bad reputation of the organization in it’s inability in

discharging the duty in the appropriate time frame would reasonably eliminate

the contractor from the industry. Or such incidents would create some

unnecessary questions in the ability of the contractor in discharging the projects

within the pre approved time frame. About the quality standards and the penalty,

the contractor has to pay back to the Client for it’s failure to completing the

projects in time, and comply with the standards would demand liquidated

damages from the contractor. Also the contractor has to bear the cost and risk of

replacing or repairing the equipments or compensate the property damage as

required by the existing norms of the Middle East Country where these types of

Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) is agreed to be taking place. So much of cost will be

involved in such issues and there for the Heavy Lift operators shall take all cares

to avoid such type of incidents during the process of Heavy Lift Cargo

transportation.

Prior to planning the shipping of a Heavy Lift cargo, a sound understanding of the

actual scope of Heavy Lift movement is required. On these motivating factors,

the Heavy Lift cargo transporter has to visualize and develop a sound strategy for

practical Heavy-Lift cargo movement in the mind prior to the actual cargo

movement takes places. Every stage in the process of Heavy Lift cargo

movement has a vital role to play as if every link of a supply chain is important in

achieving the total effectiveness of the supply chain performance. Any weak link

of a supply chain will defuse the potential and effectiveness of the supply chain.

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Same way any in any ineffective unprofessional planning of Heavy Lift cargo

movement may not be successful or short of achieving the achievable goal.

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Chapter 2, Heavy Lift Cargo Load Port Preparations and loading

Rambabu Yeleti of Satyam computer Services Ltd, in his article on Intelligent

Logistics defines intelligent logistics as “smart”, foresight-driven, sensory, responsive,

adaptive logistics’. ‘The four pillars of Intelligent Logistics are” embedding

“intelligence into logistics processes and systems involve building four robust pillars

of integrated planning and execution, Visibility, Collaboration and Analytics.

Intelligence in planning and execution means according to Rambabu’ The foresight

and responsiveness are essentials at all levels of the logistics-strategic planning,

tactical planning, operational planning as well as execution. It is equally important to

build strong linkages between planning and execution processes and systems to

embed “smartness” into Logistics”. All these suggest that the planning and execution

are not different but go hand in hand. Without proper planning of the transportation

tasks, the professional execution would not be possible.

Rambabu says’ A key ingredient of “smart” Logistics is to have a tightly integrated

planning and execution. Batch- oriented optimization and transaction- oriented

execution must be give way to ‘real-time optimization’ and ‘responsive execution’ with

a close loop feedback linking planning and execution. Visibility refers to true

understanding of customer demand’. ‘Collaboration’ demand, inventory, schedules

etc are shared, enabling better planning. This can help make all the parties “smarter”

through better decision making’.

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Planning a shipment of Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) starts from ex-works preparations,

considering the original location, place from where the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) is

originally required to move, from the factory or construction jetty. The shipper,

shipping line and he Heavy Lift transporter have to ensure a well-balanced, fully

integrated project planning where quality and safety are never compromised during

the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) shipping and transportation. This integrated approach

among all parties involved in the supply chain minimizes program delays and the

need for contingency measures.

The shipping of a Heavy-Lift cargo (HLC), the entire job is usually awarded to a

capable, professional and reputed transporter or forwarder on a turnkey basis,

including, works from the ex-works, route survey, loading on to the vessel, shipping,

receiving the Heavy-Lift Cargo at the discharge port on the self-propelled modular

trailer or on trailers, inland transportation up the desired site or positioning the Heavy

Lift on the pre-designed plinth of the foundation. Or the entire job is being split into

two or three sections as onshore section the ex-works up to loading the (HLC) on to

the vessels from the factory or jetty including the inland transportation. This is

usually called as the off-shore section and awarded this task to a transportation

company that can load the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) on to the vessel, arrange

necessary inland transportation preparations up to the vessel, capable of booking the

Heavy Lift Vessel (HLV), arranging the route survey planning and tight coordination

required.

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Toshiba Corporation, head quartered in Tokyo, Japan a leading sub-station and

power station contractor in Abu Dhabi, in United Arab EmiratesJ, for it’s transmission

and distribution division in United Arab Emirates, the Heavy-Lift Transformers of 345

ton, 275 ton and other Heavy-Lift cargoes of various types’ transportation jobs are

awarded to the transportation company as a turnkey basis. The entire scope of work

will be contracted on a turnkey basis to an experienced and professional transporter

in Japan for effective handling. The turnkey contract winning forwarder or transporter

chooses it’s inland transportation agent locally in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates or

the country where Toshiba is building sub-stations. A professional or a team of

supply chain professionals from all segments of supply chain involve in the careful

market analysis in selecting an efficient and professional transporter.

Various aspects they consider in their evaluation of a transporter prior to final section.

The due consideration is always awarded in the transporters’ past experience in the

similar Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) transportation and forwarding. The transporters

contact and influence with the local Governmental departments like customs

authorities as well as the police department, Municipality are given due weightage.

Due to the strict rules, moving Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) through the cities would be

always a matter of concern for the local authorities and police. Professional load plan

reparation, presenting it to the Government department and obtaining their

permission to move the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) would of paramount importance once

the selection process of a transporter is in progress.

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A supply chain professional from the contractor will be monitoring the progress, the

movement of the Heavy-Lift Cargo (HLC). Wherever there is a requirement for

guidance and involvement the contractor’s supply chain professional get involved.

The Supply chain professional provides with any assistance, guidance to the inland

transporter, forwarder as required for the project completion schedule. The supply

chain representative of the contractor provides the transporter with necessary

coordination with the Client such as shipping document endorsement, or site access

preparation or any other support required in order to achieve the Heavy-Lift cargo

(HLC) movement to the desired location where the contractor wiling to have the

Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC).

Other major contracting companies like Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, ABB,

Ansaldo, Siemens, Bechtel Corporation, Halliburton, Shlumberger follow the similar

methods in transporting Heavy- Lift cargo such as oilfield transformers, reactors, gas

and steam turbines from their ex-work premises to Middle East Country’s project

locations.

Multi-National Company (MNC) like Bechtel, a major Engineering, Procurement and

Construction (EPC) Corporation purchases their major Heavy Lift Cargo- Gas

Turbine for their Gasco project in Hubshan, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from

Godrej, supplier from Mumbai-India mainly due to the cost and distance factor.

Savings in time makes substantial cost-saving in terms of freight paid to the shipping

line. The cost of such heavy item purchased from Europe would be costlier than it is

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from Asia. Not only the material cost, the transportation cost from Mumbai-India is

cheaper than any other sea port in Europe or U.S.A. Purchases of this type generate

substantial savings to the buyer in terms of freight and squeezes much transit time in

terms of transportation of the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) to Abu Dhabi Port. The Port

Zayed of Abu Dhabi provides ample facility for the consignee to store the Heavy Lift

Cargo (HLC) in their heavy lift cargo storage area specially made. The Port Zayed

Sea Port Authority charge a very nominal storage fee as tarrif from the consignee for

such heavy lifts who are registered in Abu Dhabi Customs.

In Dec- 2006, Bechtel has brought a Gas turbine manufactured by Godrej-India is

kept in the Heavy-Lift cargo area of Port Sayed which is 701 tons heavy (one single

piece). The distance from Mumbai JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust) to Port Zayed

Abu Dhabi is of shorter distance in comparison with the distance from New York or

any other American locations to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

There is substantial cost and time savings in terms of time and cost in choosing to

ship the equipment from nearby locations. The shipper will make sure that the

Heavy-Lift Cargo like transformers and reactors are handed over to their respective

contractor after carrying out proper testing and covering with out affecting any

damage in immaculate working conditions.

Oilfield rig movement takes places within Middle East Counties’ to the oilfield

installations quite often. Due to the expansion of several oilfield installations spread

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all over the Middle East, especially within the OPEC (oil producing and exporting

countries). Most Heavy Lifts such as oilfield rigs, oilfield platform and oilfield

accommodation modules are constructed near to some convenient jetty and then

moved to the desired location using barge and then a suitable trailer for inland

transportation.

David J. House says ‘ the rigging skills of personnel associated with a successful lift

operation should not be undermined. Their dedication to achieving what sometimes

may appear as the impossible lift, is without equal. By the very nature of the task, the

managers and operators have placed the safety of the personnel and the protection

of the environment at the forefront of the heavy-lift/transport industry. Nothing can

expect to move without detailed ‘Risk Assessment’ and even the project cargoes,

heavy lift ships and major commercial operations all adhere to the first maritime

principal for the Safety of Life at Sea.

Jacking and skidding such Heavy Lift in to the required positions would be requiring

immense professional expertise. There are very few professional transportation

companies working on to this very specialized field of sophisticated movement and

transportation. These companies employ and maintain a fairly good team of skilled

and dedicated technical professionals and technicians who will control the entire

operation to it’s final successful completion.

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In order to ship a Heavy-Lift Cargo, it is mandatory that the shipper makes an

advance research to book space on a Heavy-Lift / Break Bulk Vessel from a shipping

line of adequate reputation in the International Maritime Industry. This shipping line

shall be permitted to operate to the sea port location where the shipper needs to

transport the Heavy-Lifts. The shipping line shall possess valid sea worthy certificates

authorized by the IMA, (International Maritime Agency). It would be better to choose

a vessel which is certified sea-worthy and not older than 15 years considering the

risk factor. Even International Insurance companies charge higher premiums from the

shipping lines that operate with older vessel that is relatively more risk involved as

published in the World Cargo News.

The Heavy Lift Cargo, like general cargo can be insured against all risks prior to

starting the actual movement and the insurance becomes effective upon issuing the

original shipping documents like Bill of Lading, Invoice, Packing List etc. To be on the

safe side, the insurance coverage need to be for 110 % of the CIF value of the Heavy

Lift Cargo. The 10 % is added with the actual 100 % to cover the overhead and the

related expenses in case an unexpected loss occurs or damage to the Heavy Lift

Cargo. We have to rule out the possibility of pilferage for such Heavy-Lift cargo

considering the weight and volume. The Shipper or Consignee, depending on the

shipping term may increase the insurance cover in such way to protect their company

interest.

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The Heavy Lift Vessel shall have an inbuilt Heavy-Lift cargo loading crane fitted on

the vessel. In case the Heavy-Lift cargo intended for shipping is heavier than the

stipulated capacity of the inbuilt crane in the Heavy Lift vessel, a floating crane of

suitable capacity shall be ideal option. Within Port Zayed, Abu Dhabi operations, a

floating crane up to 5000 ton capacity is available on special request and the

shipping line as per their requirement hires from the Sea Port Authority for their

operation. The controller of such high capacity floating cranes in most cases shall be

the Sea Port Authority. Or any reputed third party will own such cranes and would

lease as per the operational needs of the shipping lines for a reasonably high rent for

the service of such floating cranes.

The process of loading the Heavy-Lift cargo into the vessel is a very critical operation

and special care need to be maintained till the successful completion of the

operation. Imagine, if a Heavy-Lift Cargo (500 MVA transformer) of 350 ton is fallen

in the water or it is being dropped on to the vessel or any other related mistakes

would occur, it would be costing dearly to all interested parties. Moreover, it would

bring in irreparable damage to the reputation of the sea port, shipping line and other

interested parties. The shipping line and the associated forwarding companies will

normally take necessary precautions in order to get rid of any such mistakes.

The wind, tide, current of the sea port berth and surrounding areas, the water level

where the loading takes places will be a very sensitive. Accurate and professional

calculation and study of the environment would be essential in order to make the

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operation a success. Once the loading on the way and successfully completed, the

manifesting will start. The shipping line can issue the original Bill of Lading as an

evidence of the receipt of Heavy Lift on to the vessel and as a contract between the

carrier and shipper and forwarder who ever is involved. The Heavy Lift vessel thus

starts the voyage to its’ final destination sea ports.

The weather conditions ‘Act of God’ or unexpected mechanical or technical troubles

would impact or delay the vessel schedule to the backward voyage. The Etd

(Estimated time for departure) will be affected due to such ‘Act of God’. The vessel

schedule to different routes would be planned based on the inducement basis ie

depending on the Break Bulk Cargo as well as the Heavy Lift Cargo availability. For

example a vessel capable of carrying 20,000 freight/ton would expect to load a

minimum of 80% of it’s loading capacity for the reason that that particular voyage has

to make profit in operation. And profit is made in the form of collection of cargo

suitable for such vessel. If the cargo availability for such vessel is relatively less than

the actual capacity of the vessel, then the shipping line would revise the schedule

expecting some additional cargo by delaying the ETD (Estimated time for Departure)

by a couple of days. However, making more profit is the main motto of any voyage.

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Chapter 3, Heavy Lift Cargo –shipping and discharge port preparations.

As the saying goes, ‘necessity is the mother of inventions’, something better than

what was available till then, was necessary during the Second World War to win the

battle. The concept emerged among the major blocks of war finding solution for and

expansion of heavy lift ships were necessary during the Second World War. The U.S.

Navy built several floating dry-docks during the early 1940s to assist during the

Second World War. The purpose was that these floating garages could be moved to

the nearby locations to repair the crippled ships and keep them ready for the battle.

In 1945, one of the last floating dry-docks to be built for the war was placed into

service. Built by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, medium auxiliary floating

dry-dock Resolute proved herself an invaluable asset to the war effort. According to

Trish Hoffman, ‘Heavy Lift ships are designed specifically to carry large cargo like

dry-docks, damaged vessel and oil rigs’. “The dry-dock is secured to Mighty Servant

1 by a sea blocks and sea fastenings, each keep the dry-dock stable” says Jay

Standring, MSC marine specialist. “Such exact measurements require months of

planning”

While in transit to each sea port, the shipping line will issue the ETA (expected date

of arrival) to the consignee or it’s forwarding agents regularly to the forward located

sea ports. Even a minor variation in the ETA (expected date of arrival) of the vessel

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to the forward located sea ports will have impact on the vessel schedule as a whole

as well as the sea port schedule.

The three major shipping lines with reputed heavy lift cargo vessels mostly operating

in the Middle East countries are

1)Beluga Shipping GmbH, Bremen, Germany

2)NYK Lines-U.S.A

3)UASC (United Arab Shipping Company), headquartered in Kuwait.

4)Biglift shipping of Netherlands

Beluga Shipping GmbH has forecasted to build Heavy Lift cargo vessels with lifting

capacity of 80 -1400 ton for the year 2011.

According the news published in the website of biglift, “BigLift Shipping is undertaking

an investment program to extend the fleet in numbers of vessels and in lifting

capacity. A contract was signed with Larsen & Toubro of India, for the construction of

two multi-purpose heavy-lift vessels.

The main characteristics of the newbuildings are:

length o.a. 154.80 m

beam 26.50 m

scantling draft 9.50 m

deadweight 18,680 mt

The vessels will be equipped with two Huisman heavy-lift mast cranes, each having

an SWL of 900 mt: lifting capacity in tandem 1800 mt.

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The new buildings will have 1A Finnish Ice class, have hydraulically operated upper

deckhatch covers, pontoon tweendeck covers at adjustable heights, two trolley

cranes of 37.5 t SWL, hold ventilation and heating, C02 and sprinkler systems in the

hold. The vessels will be able to carry all kinds of dry cargo as well as project

cargoes and heavy lifts in the most efficient manner.

To carry very tall heavy lifts such as cranes, modules, etc. the ships can sail with the

upper deck covers totally or partially open. The vessels will be delivered end 2009

and early 2010. BigLift and Larsen & Toubro agreed on two further options for sister

vessels. The vessels are built at the brand-new shipbuilding facility of Larsen &

Toubro at Hazira”. Biglift Shipping Line too plays a very active role in transporting

Heavy Lift Cargo to the Middle Eastern Countries as observed by the author.

These heavy lift carriers in the tramp segment for worldwide project and heavy-lift

shipments (in contrast to liner services that operate on a scheduled fixed route, tramp

vessels are deployed by the shipping company on an adhoc basis-depending on the

post where cargo is destined to)

-petroleum industry

-chemical industry

-large-scale plant engineering

-rail-mounted vehicle industry

-power station industry

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-mechanical engineering

-commercial vehicle production

-offshore industry

-ship yards

When a reactor or a turbine have to be transported from U.S.A, Korea or Japan to

Qatar, U.A.E, Kuwait, Iran, Oman or any other Middle Eastern countries, the project

freight forwarders and heavy-lift cargo shipping companies into play. Producers of

large-scale plant equipment are already concerned about where they will get suitable

tonnage in future.

The worldwide economic upswing of the past years is now making itself felt in project

logistics, too. However, the heavy-lift, project market with oversized and overweight

investment goods is getting off the ground sluggishly because of the long planning

times. According to rough estimates, around 450 to 500 million tons of break bulk

cargo which cannot be stowed in any container, are shipped across the ocean. The

forecast s regarding the rise in demand in the breakbulk market vary for the individual

segments. However, they will delight the carriers and freight forwarders. According to

concurrent estimates by BDP Logistics, Panalpina and other transport providers, the

market is set to be expanding at a two-digit growth rate, but there is lack of

investment in the breakbulk fleet. The shipments to Middle East are recording over

proportionate growth rate.

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In spite of the forecasted growth prospects in the breakbulk transportation, the

currently available capacity in maritime transport for projects is not woefully

inadequate. According to Drewry Shipping consultants, the fleet of multipurpose

vessels has shrunk continuously, with a total reduction of 44 million dwat (dead

weight all told) between 1985 and 2003

Altogether the present –day fleet comprises 3,570 multipurpose carriers having

diverse equipment with a total of 35 million dwat (dead weight all told). The average

age of the vessel is now around18 years. Modern units, equipped with tweendecks,

barely account for a 24-percent share according to Drewry.

The situation is particularly tight in the segment encompassing large individual

weights of 500 ton or more. Only a handful of specialized carriers operate in this

sector. This includes shipping companies such as Jumbo, Biglift. The operating

heavy lift vessels of these shipping companies are such a “rare species” that ship

owners have to charter the vessels as much as one to two years in advance. Tailored

transport solutions are developed for shippers and their customers on the basis of

the special lists in the cargo engineering department. This is a major prerequisite for

project business.

According to a study by University of Delware, “ the international freight shipping

sector consumes around 290 million tons of fuel a year”. In comparison

approximately 125 million tons of oil are burned in Germany annually. The heavy

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quantity oil used by vessels has a high sulphur concentration. Experts of Lloyd’s

Register Quality Assurance in London estimate that vessels release ten million tons

of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere worldwide.

The new ship’s power unit is designed to reduce the oik consumption of vessels

significantly in the future. A company in Hamburg, Skysails GmbH & Co, has

developed a towing kite propulsion system similar to a hang –glider that can power

carriers using the force of the wind. The towing kite is navigated from a fully

automatic control center and optimally adjusted by means of a pull rope.

According to this company, 10-20 percent of the fuel on average can be saved in this

way. Besides the cost savings in fuel, there is another advantage with SkySails: a

reduction in pollution emissions. Due to the more stringent regulations, shipping

companies are faced with considerable costs. This automatically falls on the

contactor and thereby increases the overall cost of the heavy-lift cargo transportation.

Up to 40,000 ships worldwide could be equipped with the new ‘auxiliary sail’ by 2013

according to current estimates. As the first shipping company worldwide, Beluga

shipping will use the new “SKS160” wind propulsion system on the 140 meter long

multipurpose heavy-lift project carrier MV.”Beluga Skysails” beginning in 2007 as

stated in the Beluga website. Then this theory shall be put into practice. If everything

functions as expected and economic efficiency has been demonstrated, regular

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series production of the towing kites for freighters could be launched in 2008, the

website stated.

The system was already tested successfully on the Baltic Sea of Wismar in

September 2005. In the case of a normal heavy-lift vessel, about three to four tons of

fuel a day can be saved with the help of wind energy. Based on current oil prices,

that amounts to 1200 dollars a day that will create a very last impact on the

international business and heavy lift shipping stated the website.

The longer the vessel unable to discharge the specified Heavy-Lift Cargo to each sea

port within the stipulated schedule, the bigger the cost that the shipping line has to

pay to the sea port authority as vessel demurrage. Unlike the container demurrage,

the vessel demurrage at sea port will be huge and such demurrage would have a

reverse impact on the total overhead planned for the voyage. The shipping line would

prefer to spend relatively less time in the sea port due to the demurrage factor the

shipping line has to pay to the Sea Port authority. Over and above, other Heavy Lift

cargo discharge, vessel arrival schedule to different sea ports would be reasonably

affected. This will create a negative impact on the reputation of the service of the

shipping line and for the future voyage, shippers may opt for an alternative shipping

line if the shipper did not received service as anticipated from the shipping line.

Once, the vessel completes half of the voyage to each destinations, the Eta

( expected date of arrival) of the vessel would be intimated to the consignee and it’s

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notifying agents frequently in order to provide them with a pre-alert for the

preparation of the necessary Heavy Lift Trailers suitable for the cargo, or self-

propelled modular axel trailers readily awaiting a day in advance to the designated

sea port to receive the cargo if it is being offloaded into the Heavy Lift Storage

location of the sea port. Each sea port where Heavy Lift cargo is to arrive will have a

specific area for storage of the Heavy Lift Cargo. The Heavy Lift Cargo that is being

discharged at the sea port as indirect delivery would be kept under the sea port

storage area where it would be fully prepare for such Heavy Lift Cargo. Some times

some Heavy Lift cargo being cross docked at the terminal to facilitate the actual

movement that takes place always during the night.

If the Heavy Lift Cargo is directly loaded on a suitable barge directly from the Break

Bulk Vessel, a barge would be kept ready to receive the Heavy Lift Cargo. The

Heavy Lift Cargo, positioned and lashed in the Heavy Lift vessel would be lifted out of

the Break Bulk Vessel or rolled on the berth of the sea port and then loaded on the

suitable barge for affecting the actual movement of the cargo during the suitable tidal

conditions. The Heavy Lift Cargo transporter usually brings suitable self-propelled

modular axel trailers with suitable jacking system and a team of Heavy Lift Cargo

handling professionals in order to handle the Heavy Lift Cargo.

Once discharging Heavy Lift cargo at one Sea Port is completed, the similar

procedures would apply to other Heavy Lift Cargoes scheduled to be discharged to

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other sea ports depending on their size and nature. The Heavy Lift Cargo agents at

each sea port would make similar necessary advance preparations.

The routing of the Heavy Lift Cargo vessel is predetermined prior to the start of the

voyage. The routing schedule would be intimated to all the concerned shippers or

their forwarding agents who book the space for their Heavy Lift Cargo for their

particular Heavy Lift Cargo. The shipping line would plan each voyage minimum

three months in advance to the actual voyage and start confirming the space in the

Heavy Lift vessel. However, the vessel departure schedule from the load port also

can vary slightly due to several factors.

Once a vessel completes the stipulated voyage to one destination it would try to bring

back some type of return freight or some bulk cargo in order to make some profit

rather than the vessel returning empty.

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Chapter 4, Heavy-Lift Cargo- Transportation

Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) as rule are transported during the night in the Middle East.

Special permission from the police department and local Government authorities are

obtained by the transporter on behalf of the owner or the owner of the Heavy Lift

Cargo prior to the actual movement. Police escort to the Heavy Lift Cargo movement

is a mandatory requirement in the Middle East circumstances.

The Heavy Lift Cargo(HLC), in case of indirect movement would be kept inside the

sea port storage area designated for Heavy Lift Cargo(HLC) storage on suitable

capacity stools. In case of direct movement as well as the indirect movement the

cargo will be taken on the self-propelled modular axle trailer or trailers and moved to

a safe Heavy Lift Storage area, properly compacted and suitable concreted to

prevent any kind of sinkage on the ground and related accidents.

a) Route Survey

A thorough and professional route survey would be carried out at the earlier stages of

planning the Heavy Lift Cargo movement. The route survey will be based on the

shortest possible distance from the sea port to the actual place where this Heavy Lift

Cargo needs to be. This route survey will study all the impediments, obstructions

enroute.

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The bridges, tunnels, underpasses, roundabouts, turnings, deviation, road signal

lights, road markings, suitability of the road all will be studied thoroughly. Considering

the weight and dimension of the cargo once it is being loaded on to the (SPT) self-

propelled trailers with units integrally moved with power packs, the hight of the

bridges, signal lights, the road capacity over the underpasses, the general road with

near the turnings would be considered seriously in accordance with the weight and

size of the Heavy Lift Cargo once loaded on the ‘(SPT) self-propelled modular trailer

or trailers. The drive axles can be operated independently or assembled into any

combination. The units overcome the need for ballasted heavy duty prime movers,

which improves flexibility of use’.

The main features of a (SPT) self-propelled trailer are listed below as shown in the

website of Abnormal Load Engineering about the Self Propelled trailer (SPT) with

immense adjustability for flexible usage.

a)45 to 55 degree steering

b)Fully self powered for movement to any direction.

c)Multi-axle, high torque, drive units to maximize tractive effort.

d)2,3,4,5,6 or 8 axles driven using multi speed drive ration.

e)Multiple platform width options

f) Multiple power modules capable of being inter linked and readily replaceable

g)Remote control or manual control options

h)3 or 4 point hydraulic suspension capabilities

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The route survey will also plan some temporary lay down area during the

transportation if the distance from the distance from the beginning to the offloading

area can not be covered within one night. The route survey will aim at skipping

maximum number of the above mentioned impediments as possible in order to make

a smoother Heavy Lift Cargo movement possible. Once a professionally done route

survey is being accepted by all parties being involved or concerned, the planning and

mobilization of the self-propelled modular axle trailer and the jacking and skidding

mechanism, all the technical expertise that may be required during the actual

movement would be mobilized in advance.

b) Load plan and method statement.

The Heavy Lift Cargo movement takes places during the night in favorable weather

conditions. During wind, rain, thunder and lightning Heavy Lift Cargo movement

should not to take place. It will be unsafe to move the Heavy Lift Cargo during the

unfavorable weather conditions.

A practical method statement would be required by the Transporter to the consignee.

Consignee would submit this to the Client. Method statement would be prepared in

accordance with the Client’s requirements. The Client would simultaneously appoint

an Engineering Consulting company to monitor and study the load plan and the

method statement of the contractor. In every project that is being awarded to the

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companies, there would be an appointed consulting company who will be providing

technical expertise to the Contractor and would monitor the load plan if it is strictly in

accordance with the requirement of the Client.

The contractor is to provide a well tailored method statement to the consult and

Client for their approval of the loading and transportation plan. Also, any additional

changes affect thereby the load plan need to be intimated to the Client and

Consultants well in advance and both the parties permissions shall be obtained in

advance.

The safety requirement of the Client will be monitored by the Consulting engineers

who would study the situation and contractual requirements on behalf of the Client

and would recommend the Client for providing approval of the load plan method

statement. Based on the recommendations the contractor may ask it’s transporter to

change their original plan and method statement would be revised as per the

consultant’s or Client’s comments until obtaining both parties approval. However, the

contactor should choose a transporter who is really professional and understanding

the entire scope of the job well and thoroughly.

If the Heavy Lift Cargo moves directly from the storage location of the sea port to the

site through road the above mentions road related things shall be considered. If the

Heavy Lift Cargo is first loaded on a barge, then normally the Heavy Lift Cargo

placed on to the self-propelled trailer is being rolled on to the barge then rolled off to

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a jetty from where the actual Heavy Lift Cargo movement takes places as the Heavy

Lift Cargo movement on the road. Rolling on to the barge is very delicate since a

team of professional barge operators shall be readily present the tide hight which

normally comes to the required level during the high tide in the afternoons and

midnights. If the expected tide height is not available, the entire crew would weight

until it becomes appropriate for the Heavy Lift Cargo to roll on the barge for

movement to the jetty from where the actual transportation is to take place.

The Heavy Lift Cargo transportation during the night is permitted in the Middle East

countries because of the less number of vehicles on the road. During the day time

the roads normally are full with small vehicles, cargo trailers and trucks of various

types including the loading, offloading, and construction equipments moving in fast

pace to complete the daily activities. Less number of the vehicles on the road, more

safe and convenient the Heavy Lift Cargo movement. That is the reason, Heavy Lift

Cargo (HLC) movement is permitted only during the night.

The police escort is a must and being provided during the night for the Heavy Lift

Cargo transportation due to several reasons and such type of permissions granted by

the Governments with careful consideration of various aspects. The Government

authorities will consider if the transporter would damage any public property or cause

any obstruction to the small no of private vehicle travelling the same route when the

actual Heavy Lift Cargo movement takes places. The safety west suitable for the

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midnight transportation would be worn by all parties involved in the transportation of

Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) including the police personnel.

Usually the speed of the self-propelled modular trailer is about 7 to 8 kilometers per

hour if the cargo weight is about 300 tons within manageable dimensions. If the

Heavy Lift Cargo weight is less than 100 tons within the moderate dimensions, then

the trailer speed will increase up to 25 to 30 kilo meters and any site distance shorter

than 100 kilo meters would be covered within one night. If the distance to the site or

location where the cargo should reach is farther than the reachable, can not be

covered within one day, the Heavy Lift Cargo with the self propelled trailer will be

kept near some previously planned lay down area.

The following night, if the weather is favorable for transport, police personnel are

available for escort, the Heavy Lift Cargo movement will commence until it reaches to

the destination or site. The same technical experts and the designated team of

Heavy Lift Cargo handling professionals would accompany and would successfully

complete the entire movement of the Heavy Lift Cargo.

c) Self-propelled modular Transporters (SPMT)

Self-propelled modular transporters (SPMT) consist of multi-axled transporters

designed for the transportation of large and heavy cargoes. The 4 and 6 line

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transporter units can be operated can be operated independently or assembled into

any combination.

Heavy Transporter frame trailers are used mainly used for the movement of heavy

power generating equipment such as Gas Turbines, Steam Turbines, Generators

and Transformers.

Heavy Lift Cranes (HLC)

There are many variety of heavy lift handling cranes used for the movement of Heavy

Lift Cargo (HLC). They are Moble crane, Crawler crane, floating crane and finally

jacking and skidding system being used for the final movement of Heavy Lift Cargo

(HLC) to the plinth on the foundation.

The self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) are multi-axled trailer or trailers. It will

have a large number wheels proportionately much higher than any normal trailers

used for general cargo transportation. Mammoet Transport, and Abnormal Load

Engineering (ALE) are the major players in this field of Heavy Lift Cargo movement.

Apart from them, there are many small players in this field, breaking the monopoly of

the major players by providing competitive Heavy Lift Cargo transportation rates and

flawless services.

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d) Jacking and skidding system

‘Skid systems are designed for safe, precise horizontal movements, which provide a

means of moving plant and structures in confined or restricted environments. Skid

systems provide a unique solution for the movement of high point load or

concentrated loads. A combination of different skid-shoes creates a flexible system to

move complicated and heavy loads’. The typical skid systems used by Abnormal

Load Engineering – a leading Heavy-Lift Cargo Transporter with a dedicated team of

multi-disciplined team of professional engineers, ‘in which hydrolic skid-shoes with

stainless steel bottom move over P.T.F.E. blocks which are laid into steel tracks.

Professional jacking and skidding system efficiency is the landmark of any world

class, leading international company specialized in solving heavy lifting and transport

challenges at any onshore or offshore location. Companies with a sense of High

safety and quality standards would offer unparallel service to the jacking and skidding

system operations. Such placement cannot be obtained in accuracy while using any

type of other cranes available around in this part of the region or elsewhere.

Jacking and skidding system moves the Heavy Lift inch by inch to the plinth of the

foundation providing with the necessary tolerance. The jacking and skidding system

has to offer flawless operation in order to achieve the desired result of machinery or

equipment or bridges during installations. Depending on the nature of (HLC) Heavy-

Lift Cargo movement, different types of jacking and skidding system shall be used.

43

Highly experienced and professional companies offer tailor-made solutions for such

jacking and skidding operations.

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Chapter 5 Heavy-Lift Cargo Health and Safety aspects

Secure handling can only be guaranteed through the expert knowledge and

dedication of the people who handle the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC). Every individual

working directly with a Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) or any organization that is responsible

and is part of the supply chain process in the movement of the cargo shall commit

themselves in the quality of the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) handling.

This commitment is reinforced through continuous training and education of the

Heavy Lift Cargo handling specialists stay abreast of advances being made in best

practices and apply this knowledge by sharpening their practical skills under real and

testing operational conditions. Any Heavy Lift Cargo knowledge acquired through

experience shall be shared and shall be used to train the novices. The instruction

manual presented by this transportation company has to provide all the necessary

information required for safe and careful handling of the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC).

The protective clothing and apparels required during the actual operation time has to

be informed in details as well all other practical safety precautions. This is a strict rule

to be observed by all participants during the entire process of operations during

loading, lashing and stowage, shipping and the related operations on board and at all

relevant locations.

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However, the sound track record of any transporter would be a measuring rode for

the shipper or consignee in determining the capability of the transporter that shall be

considered in determining during the time of the decision making process of hiring

the services of a renowned transporter. However, every now and then a cross check

of the available and practicing facilities shall be reviewed in order to improve the

existing and practicing norms to better ones to obtain even more perfection. It is

always good to check the past history of their heavy lift cargo transportation projects

that a heavy lift transporter has performed in one particular region successfully.

Upon completion of every Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) movement, it is ideal to have an

evaluation meeting regarding the safe operation of the cargo. New ideas would

evolve eventually which can be put it into manuals and used for practiced among the

participating personnel and transporter. Such information and feedback shall prevent

the transporter from refraining from any future mishap otherwise can have or in the

worst case would stimulate the improvement in handling future Heavy Lifts (HL).

To ensure quality, the transporter and the crew involved in the operation should

monitor the trends, and procedures, until realizing fully the safest and cost effective

Heavy Lift Cargo becomes a routine task and it achieves zero degree errors. The

transporter shall be ready to adapt the best handling practices that evolves out of so

much of deliberate thinking and discussions among the operators and use such

knowledge for enhancing performance and technique.

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Health and safety of the operational personnel and surrounding properties are of

paramount importance during the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) movement in the Middle

East circumstances. Any damage to the life or property would result serous damage

to the reputation of the contractor and the transporter. With the specific aim of a safe

and smoother Heavy Lift movement the contractor would be submitting their plan of

action as a ‘ Method Statement’ in the mode, plan and method in which the Heavy

Lift Movement (HLM) would be carried out would be presented to the Client for their

approval for carrying out the actual job.

In addition to prevention of damages or accidents to property and personnel, the

Client / Consultant would discourage any inkling of any possible way or method in

which there can be an accident or any possibility to affect the health and safety of the

operating personnel. The operating personnel’s safety and health consciousness

would also be high importance during the approval of such method statement. Any

deviations found during the actual movement of the (HLC) Heavy Lift Cargo would be

dealt with seriousness by the Middle Eastern Country Authorities.

Due to the high consciousness on Health and Safety (HSE) aspects, the power

transformers of Toshiba Corporation are transported without filling the oil in the main

tank. According to Toshiba Engineers, filling oil into the main tank prior to it reaches

the foundations is not a practical thing to do. Therefore, Toshiba arrange marine

transportation for such Transformer and reactor main tanks after filling automatic dry

nitrogen or dried air filling arrangement. During transport, each transformer shall be

47

equipped with devices maintaining a constant pressure in the equipment concerned

and facilitating tapping –up by suitable automatic facilities from reserve bottles.

On the other hand, according to the ‘International treaty of marine transportation of

International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code’, (IMDGC)’, dried cylinder belongs to

catagory A’ of part 3-Dangerous goods’ and can be shipped ‘ON DECK’ or ‘UNDER

DECK’. However, this dry air cylinder shall be placed at ‘ON DECK’ or dangerous

article area, in case the Captain of the ship decides in his responsibility since cylinder

is categorized into dangerous goods.

During the transportation the 500MVA transformer and the reactors tank is

pressurized dry air for keeping the positive pressure, therefore atmosphere air can

not invade to inside of Transformer, Reactor main tank. If the air pressure decreased

during the transportation, supplement of dry air is possible, because dry air cylinder

had transported with transformer tank by the same ship. This is the method used by

Toshiba Corporation, Japan whenever Toshiba transported Heavy Lift Transformers

and Reactors to the substation and power station projects of Middle East Countries.

Other Multi-National companies, like Mistubishi, ABB, Siemens competing in the

same industry and working for the same Client would follow the similar method of

transportation which has proved time and again as a safest method of transportation

for such Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC)

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Other Major players in the Heavy Engineering sector like, Bechtel Corporation,

Hyundai Heavy Industries, Doosan Heavy Industries, Technip, Chiyoda Corporation

are following the similar safe methods when they transport the Gas Turbines, Steam

Turbines and the related heavy equipments to their respective construction sites.

‘A Heavy Lift –Ship (HLS) is designed and capable of loading and unloading heavy

and bulky items. The ship has booms of sufficient capacity to accommodate a single

lift of 100 tons’ (DOD) U.S. Department of Defense.

Several inventions took place in the field of Heavy Lift Cargo transportation during

last few decades around the world especially in U.S and U.K. ‘Semisubmersible

vessel for transporting and installing heavy deck sections offshore using quick drop

ballast system’ invented by Alparslan Kocaman and Trevor R.J. Mills secured the

U.S. patent on April 4, 1995. The summary of the invention is that ‘an apparatus for

transporting and installing a deck of an offshore platform into a substructure in a

marine environment. It consists of a semisubmersible vessel having two or more

submerged potoons that support a deck elevated above the waterline. The deck of a

semisubmersible vessel is configured with an opening therein sized to fit in partially

around the substructure. A skid-way assembly is secured to the deck of the

semisubmersible vessel for supporting the deck of the offshore platform across the

opening. An anchoring assembly moors and maintains the semisubmersible vessel in

a pre-selected position partially around the substructure so that the deck of an

offshore platform is located above and alignment with the substructure. A ballasting

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assembly rapidly lowers the vessel thereby transferring the deck onto the

substructure. This ballasting assembly incorporates individual pressurized

components in the pontoons which are filled with water for ballast purposes. Control

means selectively control the flow of water into each of the pressurized

compartments’.

The invention of ‘floating crane’ was another landmark in the field of Heavy Lift Cargo

loading and discharging from the vessel.

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Chapter 6 Heavy-Lift Cargo Lifter (Air Freight)

Until recently, the concept of super Heavy-Lift Cargo Airship was an idea, not a

reality. And as per the saying ‘necessity is the mother of inventions’. The prompt

availability of Heavy Lift Cargo to the required place and time has stimulated such

faster thinking of finding alternative means for the faster movement of Heavy Lift

Cargo (HLC) Cargolifter AG, a German company that plans to build airships capable

of carrying out enormous loads for the bulk airfreight market. The superiority of

importance lies in the ability of the Cargolifter in reaching the remote and

mountainous locations where the land Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) can not reach.

To the projects based in mountains tops where in the normal case no ship would go

and trailers moving with such crew on a hill top would be a Herculian task. Such

types of remote location deliveries could be undertake by Cargolifter. Even some of

the Heavy Cargo deliveries on the rig platform could be undertaken by the

Cargolifter.

The Cargolifter AG CL 160 super-heavy lift cargo airship was designed to transport

very heavy objects more economically, being able to deliver its payload directly to the

desired ‘drop off point’. The Cargolifter 160 is able to lift very heavy awkward loads,

and deliver them to difficult locations, such as mountainous or jungle terrain where

the traditional logistics would struggle.

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The Cargolifter 160 derives its name from its designed payload capacity of 160

tonnes. Cargolifter AG have constructed a headquarters hanger capable of housing

their Cargolifter 160 fleet at a site located on the former military airfield of Brand,

60km south of Berlin.The Cargolifter 160 will be powered by eight turboshaft engines

from General Electric aircraft engines, which propel 6 m propellers.

For emergency services and relief operations these types of flights are used in order

to bring military tanks and the related hardwares to the war zones and remote

locations.

Heavy Lift Cargo Airlines are mostly used for transporting mostly fighter helicopters.

The relief operations in Solomon Islands are also headed by such Heavy Lift Cargo

Airlines. Several tones of tuna also lifted out of the Solomon island to the main lands

of Japan using the Heavy Lift Airlines of Australia.

According to Robert Luke ‘efficient supply chains are important with growing

geographical distance from production and consumption’. Due the impact of

globalization, multinational companies are procuring and producing special

equipments in to any convenient place where the raw materials and cheap labor are

abundantly available. Upon completing the processing or construction is over this

need to be moved or shipped to the desired location and the companies need to find

ways to carry out the movements in a cost effective methods without compromising

to international standards.

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In the field of Heavy Lift Cargo airfreight there are a lot of limitations in terms of the

airlines’ capacity in carrying weight and it’s quantity. But the combined method of

multimodal transportation can be chosen to resolve the hurdles that arises enroute.

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Chapter 7 Major Heavy Lift Cargo movement (HLC) in Middle East Countries

Moving longer, taller and heavier cargo across the land and sea constitute the major

portion of the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) movement in Middle East. The awareness of

the transporter (shipping line) about the know-how of the cargo, the attention the

cargo requires during the voyage from the transporter is very important. Special

cargoes call for a vessel that offers more flexibility. Minimizing, handling time, cost

and risk shall be the primary aims of the transporter. The below mentioned are the

few tips in this process. At the port of discharge, the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) can be

lifted from the barge or vessel using either a floating crane, or a mobile crane or a

sea port crane.

Below deck stowage

RoRo vessels can accommodate Heavy Lift Cargo as tall as 5.5 meters high and 15

meters long below it’s deck. The measurement takes into consideration of a

clearance of 20 cms between the top of the cargo and the deck above which is

minimum required for the safe operaions. The shipping line secures the Heavy Lift

Cargo below the deck with lashing chains, with the trailer or without the trailers

depending on the mode of operations.

On deck stowage

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Almost any Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) that exceeds the maximum height of 6 meters,

for stowage below deck can be transferred to upper deck. Loading directly out of and

discharging directly into the water is possible with the use of a suitable crane.

Heavy Lift Cargo handling

The size and weight of the machinery being shipped determine the type of equipment

used to load, stow and discharge the cargo. Low-bed trailers of different capacity,

roller trailers, heavy lift trailers, jack up trailers are being used depending on the

nature and type of the cargo. Towing or trailering cargo onboard eliminates the risk of

potential damage that is ever present during lift- on/ lift-off operations. However,

transformers and reactors normally shipped with a strongly fitted hook which is very

solid and lift-on and lift-off is being done using the hooking options.

Machine tools include any machinery used for cutting, shaping or forming of metal.

These include sophisticated production units for the automotive and aircraft

manufacturing industries, some of which are fitted with sophisticated computer units.

Any machine tools that come in cases, wooden crates or steel crates are generally

carried on roll-trailers or bolsters. Cargo is securely lashed to the roll-trailers and

bolsters which in turn are secured to the deck of the vessel. Due consideration and

care are given to secure the cargo to avoid mechanical stress which can cause

damage to the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC).

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Large volumes of cargo accessories are impossible to be transported in the fitted

stage. They are usually shipped in the bulk stage in different odd dimensional pallets

and collies. For example the radiators of a heavy transformer would be difficult to

transport in a fitted stage. It would be abnormal to think such mode where as one can

think of disassembling the accessories and moving it as bulk cargo would be a

practical solution.

During the past two decades innumerable construction had been taken place in most

of the Middle Eastern Countries. The importation of Heavy equipments and

machineries are vital for such constructions like oilfield installations, building of power

stations, substations, power cable laying projects, desalination projects, long bridges,

high rise buildings and so on. The trend is always upward even to-day due to the

growth in oil revenue and the insatiable quench of the Middle Eastern Countries for

high excellence and growth in the industrial areas in line with the international

standards. The power sector is almost monopolized in these countries by major multi

national players. They even compete to win the prestigious projects in these areas.

The availability of cheap labor and technicians also help these major players to

concentrate these countries more and more.

In comparison with America and Europe the number of Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC)

movement that took place in Middle Eastern countries are relatively less in number.

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Yet, there are a number of Heavy Lift Cargo movements that took place I the Middle

Eastern Countries that are note worthy.

Major Heavy Lift Cargo Movements took place in Middle Eastern Countries.

Major Heavy Lift Cargo movements carried out by International and regional Heavy

Lift Cargo Operators for major projects are shown in the table below. Most of the

Heavy Lift Cargo Movement took place in UAE, Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia & Oman

during last 5 decades are listed in it. Indeed they are the major players in this sector.

The major Heavy lift Cargo transporters in the Middle East countries with most

advanced and sophisticated equipments and technology are the below listed 4 major

transporters with strong regional presence. Making a detailed search in every region

would provide a few more small players in this field relatively on a lesser cost.

1) ALE- Abnormal Load Engineering, present in almost all Middle East countries

2) Mammoet Transport B.V, present in almost all Middle East countries

3) Al Jabber, present in UAE, Qatar and Oman

4) Al Majdouie based in Saudi Arabia

5) Al Moherbie Transport- based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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PROJECT NAME

CITY / COUNTRY

HEAVY LIFT DESCRIPTION

WEIGHT IN TONS

TRANSPORTER

Mussafah SPMT

Mussafah, UAE

Load-out of a tugboat using Self Propelled Modular Trailers

1500 ton Mammoet

Balal Project Khoramshar, Iran

Load out of a 800mT jacket in Khoramshar

800mT Mammoet

Belema Abu Dhabi, UAE

Load-out of 3 modules upto 800 ton

800 ton Mammoet

Murphy Medusa Project

UAE Strand Jack Load Out of 12,000mT Spar Buoy

12,000mT Mammoet

Terra Nova Project

Mussafah, UAE

Load-out of an 1100 ton turret using Self Propelled Modular Trailers

1100 ton Mammoet

Al Jubail Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia

Super heavy lift subcontract no. DLM-PKO-M003 for Petrokemya Oelfins III project at Al-Jubail in Saudi Arabia

Mammoet

Al Rayyan Oil Development

Ras Laffan, Qatar

Lifting and removal of ton jack-up legs 94m long / 300 using a CC4800 twin ring crane 1600 ton

1600 ton Mammoet

Al Taweelah 'A' Ext. Project

UAE 4 Heavy lifts of 55-610 ton each

55-610 ton

Mammoet

Al Taweelah A2

UAE 18 x modules 200 ton each

200 ton Mammoet

Al Zour Project

Kuwait Transportation and placing of 4 Evaporator blocks (2700 ton)

2700 ton Mammoet

Aromatics 3 Iran Heavy equipment erection contract using a 2000 ton Platform ringer crane. Heaviest tower 1500 ton

1500 ton Mammoet

Aromatics 3 Bandar Imam Khomeiny, Iran Iran

Placing 8 tanks at the third Aromatics plant in Iran. The weights of the tanks range

250 ton Mammoet

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from 210 to 250 tonAromatics 4 Iran Heavy Equipment

Transportation and Erection contract using a 200 ton Platform ringer crane and Heaviest towers 980 ton and 112m long

980 ton Mammoet

Conoco Refinery

Syria Transportation of 2 vessel of 48m / 200 ton over a distance of 500km

200 ton Mammoet

Gas Train 3 Project

Saudi Arabia, Qatar

Heavy lift operations for the Equate Ethelene Project in Kuwait, the Ras Tanura Project in Saudi Arabia and the Qatar Gas Train 3 Project with Demag CC4800 and Twin Ring System

Mammoet

JUEG Project Saudi Arabia

Heavy Equipment Transportation and Erection contract using a 3600 ton MSG50 ringer crane and Heaviest towers 1180 ton and 86 m long and two reactors of 860 ton

860 ton Mammoet

Kuwait New Oil Pier

KUNOP Loading, transportation and roro operations of 120 modules up to 300 ton

300 ton Mammoet

Masilla Expansion project

Masilla, Yemen

Between the many mountains in this area, Mammoet was called in to transport heavy items up to 100 ton. A special challenge was to cope with slopes that sometimes exceeded

100 ton. Mammoet

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17%NGL-4 Project

Mesaieed, Qatar

Transportation and double handling of over 100 heavy lifts up to 240 ton

240 ton Mammoet

NODCO Refinery Expansion

Mesaieed, Qatar

Erection works of 6 x CCR Modules of 190 ton each

190 ton Mammoet

NODCO Refinery Expansion

Mesaieed, Qatar

Transporting 7 heavy lifts up to 820 ton from factory in Spain till up to erected onto foundation in Qatar

820 ton Mammoet

Petrokemy Project

Saudi Arabia

Transportation of 4 modules weighing 2500 ton each

2500 ton Mammoet

Petrokemya Project

Jubail, Saudi Arabia

Transportation of 4 nos furnaces, each weighing approx. 2.500 ton, from harbor to site Petrokemya, Jubail Saudi Arabia

2.500 ton Mammoet

QAFAC Methanol / MTBE

Qatar Heavy Lifts Upto 516 ton

516 ton Mammoet

QVC Project Mesaieed, Qatar

Transporting of all heavy cargo up to 240 ton

240 ton Mammoet

Ras Laffan Project

Ras Laffan, Qatar

Transportation, Lifting and installing of a total of 60,000 ton of equipment

Mammoet

South Pars 1 Gas Separation plant

Assaluyeh, Iran

The Contract calls for receiving 12 heavy loads up to 160 ton in the UAE, the transport to a storage area, the reloading of the equipment onto barges and all necessary roro operations. The equipment, from Korea Germany and Italy arrive in Port

160 ton Mammoet

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Rashid and the Jebel Ali Port in Dubai

South Pars 1 Gas Separation plant

Assaluyeh, Iran

Erection work and supervision of all heavy lifts up to 180 ton using 450 ton and 250 ton cranes

450 ton Mammoet

South Pars 2-3 Gas separation plant

Assaluyeh, Iran

160 heavy lifts upto 300 ton receiving in UAE, transport to storage area, reloading, roro operations UAE, barging, roro operations Iran, transport under crane hook, erection work using crawler cranes

300 ton Mammoet

Sulphur Recovery Expansion Project QLGC-SRX

Ras Laffan, Qatar

Transportation and placing of a boiler module 180 ton / combustion chamber 135 ton

180 ton Mammoet

Airport substation

Doha, Qatar Transformers 100 ton 100 ton Mammoet

Al Kalba Power plant

UAE Transportation and offloading off frame 6 gas turbines, generators and transformers up to 100mT, including all general and oversized cargo

100 ton Mammoet

Al Wasit III Power Plant

Sharjah, UAE

Transportation and offloading off frame 9 gas turbines, generators and transformers up to 220 ton , including all general and oversized cargo

220 ton Mammoet

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Barqa Power Project

Oman Transportation and installation of Gas turbines and generators of max. 220mT using a mega lift system

220 ton Mammoet

Dubai Falcon Project

Dubai, UAE 5 x 160 ton transformers

160 ton Mammoet

Dubal Expansion Project

Dubai, UAE 9 Pcs. Generators101-191 ton

191 ton Mammoet

Jebel Ali "h" Power Station

Jebel Ali, UAE

6 Nos. turbine 202 ton, 6 Nos. generator 189 ton

202 ton Mammoet

Jebel Ali 'G' Station

Jebel Ali, UAE

1 x 200 ton Gas Turbine, 1 x 227 ton Generator

227 ton Mammoet

Manah Power Station

Oman 6 heavy lifts upto 100 ton

100 ton Mammoet

Medinat Zayed to Sir Banivas Island

UAE 3 x 85 ton diesel engines

85 ton Mammoet

Merkadh Substation

Dubai, UAE Transport and placing of 280 ton transformers

280 ton Mammoet

MEW North. Emirates Power Station

UAE 10 x 53 ton transformers

53 ton Mammoet

Qatar Transmission Project Phase IV

Qatar 6 x 120 ton transformers plus up to 50 ton

120 ton Mammoet

Qidfa & Ras Al Power plant 210 ton Mammoet

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Nakheel Power Station

Khaimah, UAE

equipment 210 ton

Qidfa Power Project

UAE Transportation and installation of gas turbines and generators of max. 220 ton using a mega lift system

220 ton Mammoet

QVC Project Mesaieed, Qatar

Transportation and placing of 4 turbines 100 ton

100 ton Mammoet

Ras Laffan IWPP

Ras Laffan, Qatar

Barging, transportation and installation of 12 desalination units of 750 ton from UAE to 1600 ton Ras Laffan, Qatar

1600 ton Mammoet

Rusail Power Station

Oman Turbines 230 ton 230 ton Mammoet

Power pantOman

Loading and inland transportation of 3 No. 2,000 ton Evaporator Modules on Self Propelled Modular Transporters.

2000 ton ALE

Power Plant Oman Offloading from ro-ro vessel, local transportation and offloading onto foundation of 5 No. 3,600 ton Evaporator modules

3,600 ton ALE

Offshore UAEThe Mooring Head Topside weighed 1,050 tons and the Jacket weighed 1,000

1,050 ton ALE

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tons. ALE were responsible for the complete turnkey operation on this project.

Petrochmical Saudi Arabia The Fractionator

Tower was 100 metres long and weighed 1,420 tonnes. The inland transportation of the Fractionator Tower was carried out utilising ALE's Self Propelled Modular Transporters and bolster system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

1,420 ton ALE

Power Generation / speciality lifting

UAEThe project included marine and land transportation together with the installation of five Gas Turbines, five 280 ton Generators, two 300 tonne Steam Turbine Generators, seven 180 ton Transformers and two 290 ton Transformers.

290 ton ALE

Power Generation /Speciality lifting.

UAEThe installation of a 310 ton Gas Turbine using ALE's 800 ton 4 point hydraulic gantry system in the United Arab Emirates.

800 ton ALE

Infrastructure/ Bridges

UAEThe bridge structure was 108 metres in length and weighed,

2,560 ton ALE

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2,560 ton. All aspects of the operation including barge ballasting, mooring, sea fastening design and the towing operation were the responsibility of ALE in this turnkey project.

Infrastructure /Bridges

UAE-Bahrain The barge was towed

from UAE to the Mina Salman Causeway in Bahrain.

800 ton ALE

Desalination Plant

UAE-Sharjah

Transport 1,700 ton MED Unit from Ex-works at Belleli’s workshop at Hamriyah Free Zone up to delivered, installed and aligned onto its foundations at Layyesh Desalination plant near Port Khalid, Sharjah, UAE.

1700 ton Al Jaber

Offshore UAE-Dubai 3 offshore modules of each 530 tons along side the FPSO” Knock Adoon” at the Dubai Dry docks.

530 tons each

Al Jaber

Airport Substation

UAE-Abu Dhabi

1x 85 ton Transformer transportation up to placing on the foundations

85 ton Al Jaber

NPCC Yard UAE-Abu Dhabi

1 x 140 ton Gas Turbine Generator transporation and placing on the foundations

140 ton Al Jaber

Lulu Substation

UAE-Abu Dhabi

1x 85 ton Transformer transportation up to placing on the

85 ton Al Jaber

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foundationsShahama Store

UAE-Abu Dhabi

1x 90 ton Transformer transportation up to placing on the foundations

90 ton Al Jaber

Delma Island UAE-Delma Island

1x65 ton Diesel Unit transportation and placing on the foudations

65 ton Al Jaber

Qalhat LNG Project

Sur-Oman 2 x 140 tons Bush Generators,2x 60 ton Pauwels transformers2x120 tons Nuovo Pignone turbines2x 40 ton Nuovo Pignone Aux.skids, all loading, transportation placing on the foundations

140 tons Al Jaber

Kalba Power stations

UAE-Kalba 3x80-120ton Evaporator Blocks

120 tons Al Jaber

SEWA stores UAE-Sharjah

5 x85 ton transformers, jacking up, transport, barging and jacking down

85 tons Al Jaber

QAFCO-4 Project

Qatar-Al Maither

1x170 ton Evaporator, loading Transporation from Messaieed Port to site and placing on the foundations.

170 tons Al Jaber

Al Maither Substation

Qatar-Al Maither

2 x139 tons transformers, loading, transportation from Doha port and placing on the foundations

139 tons Al Jaber

Al Duheil substation

Qatar-Al Duheil

1 x139 tons transformers, loading, transportation from Doha port and placing on the foundations

139 ton Al Jaber

Airport UAE-Dubai 4 x75 tons 75 tons Al Jaber

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Substation transformers, loading, transportation from Doha port and placing on the foundations

Al Khan substation

UAE-Al Khan

3 x 90 tons transformers transportation from Jebel ali port to Al Khan site and placing on the foundations

90 tons Al Jaber

Air Port Substation

QATAR-Abu Hamour

2 X 150 tons transformers loading from Doha port and placing on the foundations at site

150 tons Al Jaber

Al Duheil substation

Qatar-Al Duheil

1 x 139 ton transformers, loading from Abu Dhabi to site and placing on the foundations

139 ton Al Jaber

Doha Central substation

Qatar-Doha 1 x 150 ton transformer-loading and transporation and placing on the foundations

150 ton Al Jaber

Abu Hamour north sub-station

Qatar-Abu Hamour

2 x 110 tons transformer-loading, transportation and placing on the foundations

110 tons Al Jaber

ADWEA Projects

UAE-Abu Dhabi

2 x 275 ton transformers6 x 140 tons transformers2x 190 ton transformers8 x 76 ton transformers, trun key transportation to site and placing on the foudations

275 tons Al Jaber

E48 project UAE-Abu Dhabi

3 x 110 ton used transformers were transported from city limit to ADWEA

110 tons Al Moherbie transport, Abu Dhabi.

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stores in Baniyas, Abu Dhabi

In addition to the above transporters, there are many small scale transporters

regionally present who undertake relatively lesser load and lift on lift off basis.

Chapter 8 Recommendations for the future

Weatherproofing the supply chain is vital. AMR Research, a lading industry analyst

and research firm might refer to this as “sensing, shaping, and responding” to the

situation or the likelihood. Manhattan Associates, the leading supply chain solutions

provider offers several tips for logistics efficiency to help ensure that the right

supplies are in the right place at the right time. The same theories can be adapted as

a basis for Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) transportation as well. Added additional

preparations as stated in the earlier chapters would support the basic movement.

The real-time information about the movement of Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) shall be

transparent among all parties in the supply chain. Information transparency is critical

to providing visibility into the movement of product and understanding the impact of

operations.

Implement intelligence and responsiveness tools to anticipate and quickly react to

changing demand. The Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) operators need to achieve true sense

of responsiveness in order to sense, react to and shape the customer demand. It is

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not simply shipping and transporting the heavy lift but shipping and transporting it

safely and in accordance with the regional and international standards.

Responsiveness tools provide companies with the ability to anticipate to them in

emergency situations.

Major recommendations:

Seek assistance from the Industrial experts prior to jumping into solving problems

-During the all aspects of Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC) movement planning and movement

implementation- seek assistance from the professionals and experts.

Project planning – Always provide adequate importance and time to project planning

and review of the total project logistics requirements for the Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC)

movement.

Transportation analysis- determining the best transportation scenario for our type of

Heavy Lift Cargo, Forecast the practical needs and improvise the professionalism

and technical know how in compatible with the circumstances.

Project logistics plan - developing a logistics plan to meet the safest Heavy Lift Cargo

delivery goals.

Optimization - design and implement optimal logistics solutions specific to project

Heavy Lift Cargo Transportation goals and costs. Execute the logistics plan, with

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consistent client updates and optimizing for any changes to meet client demands and

scheduling.

Active open dialog between engineering, project management, procurement, and

logistics is a key factor for overall project success. The early involvement oflogistics

concerns can significantly effect optimization for transportation and logistics costs. By

implementing a comprehensive logistics plan the overall project efficiencies are

greatly enhanced, and traditional logistics’ impediments are minimized.

Foresight - driven, smart, sensory, adaptive, reproductive and responsive type of

Heavy Lift Cargo transportation planning would be ideal. The Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC)

transportation planning has to be responsive towards the growing technology. Then

most modern inventions in the field of transportation shall be researched and

adapted in for the present and future operations.

Using these transporters’ names in the internet search engine would take one to

these Heavy Lift Cargo transporters’ respective sites and office locations.

Establishing contact and utilizing their expertise as per the requirements of the

Clients would be at their discretion, depending on the weight, cost, experience and

cost and effectiveness of their ability in the field of Heavy Lift Cargo (HLC)

transportation.

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References

For general references during this composition, the author has visited websites of:

ALE- Abnormal Load engineering, (www.ale.com)

Mammoet website, (www.mammoet.com)

Al Jaber website, (www.aje.com)

World Cargo News published by Jeff Ashcroft

American Defense website

Fatchgroup-Switzerland website

www.Heavyliftcargo.com

www.Rigzone.com

www.Oceantrader.com

www.Almajdouie.com

www.Msc.navy.ml.com

www.Freepatentsonline.com

www.Patentstorm.us.COM

www.eyefortransport.com

The logistics articles published in the World Cargo News.com

Logistics World News, published on 10th-April-2007

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World Cargo News published by Jeff Ashcroft in various edditions

Also, referred the Middle East Economic Survey, 12th-June-2004, by Ali Mezra.

Beluga GmbH –German Heavy Lift operator’s website

www.apparelsearch.com

ABREVATIONS

HLC- Heavy Lift Cargo

HLS-Heavy Lift Ship

SPT - Self-propelled trailers with integrally mounted power packs.

SPMT - Self-propelled modular transporters

OPEC- Oil Producing and Exporting Countries

MSC- Mediterranean Shipping Company

ICC-International Chamber of Commerce, headquartered in Paris.

LIFO- Last in first out

MPC- Multi Purpose Carrier

DWT- Deadweight

EDD-Estimated Delivery Date

ETA-Estimated Time for Arrival

ETD-Estimated Time for Departure

SWL-Safe Working Load

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HEAVY LIFT CARGO GLOSSARY

The below listed heavy lift cargo glossary are arranged for the words that are used in this theses and the one that comes generally in the Heavy Lift Cargo mode of transportation. During the perusal of the theses what ever terms the author thinks will come up in the readers mind are tried to be expanded hereunder.

A

‘Act of God’- An unexpected reaction of the nature that is beyond the control of

man and no man could be held responsible for that.

Amidships

At or in the middle of a vessel

B

Ballast

Materials, solely carried to improve the trim and the stability of the vessel. In vessels usually water is carried as ballast in tanks, specially designed for that purpose. Usually this function performed by the crew at the sea ports and during voyages

Break Bulk Cargo

General cargo conventionally stowed as opposed to unitized, containerized and Roll On-Roll Off cargo.Synonym: Conventional Cargo.

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Bunker

(Tank) spaces on board a vessel to store fuel. Once a voyage is completed, the vessel at Sea Port the bunkering is being performed to refill the tank with enough quantity of fuel to complete the voyage until the next Sea Port where the same function can be performed.

C

Call

Each visit of a vessel to a sea port is said as call

Cargo Handling

All procedures and preparation necessary to enable the physical handling of goods from the vessel or sea port and all parties associated with this handling function

Carriage

The process of transporting (conveying) cargo, from one point to another as per the contract of carriage between the shipper and carrier’s agent

Carriage and Insurance Paid To (...named place of destination)As per Incoterm 2000, based on which the international trade takes places allover the world-"Carriage and insurance paid to..." means that the seller has the same obligations as under CPT but with the addition that the seller has to procure cargo insurance against the buyer's risk of loss of or damage to the goods during the carriage. The seller contracts for insurance and pays the insurance premium. Incoterm-2000 is being formulated by ICC-International Chamber of Commerce, headquartered in Paris.The buyer should note that under the CIP term the seller is only required to obtain insurance on minimum coverage. The CIP term requires the seller to clear the goods for export. This term may be used for any mode of transport including multimodal transport.

"Carrier" means any person who, in a contract of carriage, undertakes to perform or to procure the performance of' carriage, by rail, road, sea, air, inland waterway or by a combination of such modes. If subsequent carriers are used for the carriage to the agreed destination, the risk

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passes when the goods have been delivered to the first carrier. The CPT term requires the seller to clear the goods for export.This term may be used for any mode of transport including multimodal transport.

Carrier

The party undertaking transport of goods from one point to another

CIF"Cost, Insurance and Freight" means that the seller has the same obligations as under CFR but with the addition that he has to procure marine insurance against the buyer's risk of loss of or damage to the goods during the carriage. The seller contracts for insurance and pays the insurance premium. The buyer should note that under the CIF term the seller is only required to obtain insurance on minimum coverage. The CIF term requires the seller to clear the goods for export. This term can only be used for sea and inland waterway transport. When the ship's rail serves no practical purposes such as in the case of roll-on/ roll-off or container traffic, the CIP term is more appropriate to use.

Customs

The department of the Civil Service that deals with the levying of duties and taxes on imported goods from foreign countries and the control over the export and import of goods e.g. allowed quota, prohibited goods

Cross Dock

Transfer of cargo from one trailer to another at a terminal

D

Deadload

The difference between the actual and calculated ship's draft

Dead Head

A shipment moving without charges, a trailer moving empty

Deadweight

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The total weight of cargo, cargo equipment, bunkers, provisions, water, stores and spare parts which a vessel can lift when loaded to her maximum draught as applicable under the circumstances. The deadweight is expressed in tons.

Derrick

Lifting equipment on board(crane) on a conventional vessel for loading and discharging cargo, consisting of a post attached to the deck and an inclined spar.

Deviation from a Route

A divergence from the agreed or customary route

Deviation

The vessel, due to unavoidable circumstances deviates from the fixed route to safeguard her loaded cargo

Dimensions

Measurements in length, width and height, regarding cargo

Direct Route

The shortest operated route between two points

E

Estimated Delivery Date

The date and time a package or shipment is expected to be delivered to a given destination.

Estimated Time of Arrival

Abbreviation: ETAThe expected date and time of arrival in a certain port.Synonym: Expected time of arrival.

Estimated Time of Departure

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The expected date and time when a vessel left certain port

Ex Works (...named place)

"Ex works" means that the seller fulfils his obligation to deliver when he has made the goods available at his premises (i.e. works, factory, warehouse, etc.) to the buyer. In particular, he is not responsible for loading the goods on the vehicle provided by the buyer or for clearing the goods for export, unless otherwise agreed. The buyer bears all costs and risks involved in taking the goods from the seller's premises to the desired destination. This term thus represents the minimum obligation for the seller. This term should not be used when the buyer cannot carry out directly or indirectly the export formalities. In such circumstances, the FCA term should be used.

Exporter

The party responsible for the export of goods and in some multi-national organizations the importer and exporter shall be the same. Both will be registered for export and import respectively in both locations

F

Floating Crane

A recent invention due to the challenges faced by the heavy lift industry at the sea port and inland water ways where the assistance of Floating Crane is of vital importance. It functions same like an onshore crane. It is a crane mounted on a barge or pontoon, which can be towed or is self propelled.

Floating Dock

A floating structure that can be partially submerged to enable vessels to enter and to leave and which can be raised for use as a dry dock.

FOB

See Free On Board (...named port of shipment) as per INCOTERM-2000

G

General Cargo

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Cargo, cosisting of goods, unpacked or packed, for example in cartons, crates, bags or bales, often palletized. General cargo can be shipped either in break-bulk or containerized form depending on the customer requirement.Any consignment other than a consignment containing valuable cargo and charged for transport at general cargo rates (air cargo).

H

Hatch

The devider used to separate the decks. Also stands as a roof of the tweendecks. The hatch is normally lifted on and off prior and after loading and discharging cargo

Heavy Lift

Single commodity exceeding the capacity of normal loading equipment and requiring special equipment and rigging methods for handling, loading, transportation and discharging.

Heavy Lift Vessel

A vessel specially designed and equipped for the carriage of heavy and over size cargo. She normally has a very spacious open deck for enabling very large, heavy and over sized cargo for boarding, securing and lashing for safe shipping.

Importer

The party responsible for the import of goods who will register in the regional chamber of commerce and customs authority and secure a license as banafide importer in order to effect the import of stipulated goods.

Infrastructure

System of roads, waterways, airfields, ports and/or telecommunication networks in a certain area and its development and maintenance. Without proper infrastructure, transportation of cargo and Heavy Lift in particular will be difficult.

Insurance

A system of protection against loss under which a party agrees to pay a certain

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sum (premiums) for a guarantee that they will be compensated under certain conditions for loss or damage while the cost of insurance is always borne by the insurer

Insurance Certificate

Proof of an insurance contract between the shipper and consignee and all parties related to. It needs to be presented once there arise a claim for any damage or pilferage to cargo

Insurance Company

The party covering the risks of the issued goods and/or services that are insured that collects certain premium for its services from the shipper or consignee as per the terms of coverage.

J

Job

That work which is undertaken to meet a customer or production order and, for production control purposes, has a unique identification.

Joint Venture

A joint activity of two or more companies for achieving a specified object, usually performed under a common name to complete a particular task or a project. Sometimes joint ventures are formed in order to eradicate the competitors from a particular market.

K

Keel

Longitudinal girder at the lowest point of a vessel from which the framework is built

Knot

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Unit of measurement for the speed (of a vessel) equal to a nautical mile (= 1852 metres) per hour.

L

Lash

To hold goods in position by the use of e.g. wires, ropes, chains and straps. See Lighter Aboard Ship. Lashing of Heavy Lift Cargo on the heavy lift vessels to secure the cargo tightly and protect it from any other danger otherwise the cargo can come across.

Lashing Point

Point on a means of transport, (trailer, ship or sea port) to which wires, chains, ropes or straps, which are used to hold goods in position, are attached.

Last In First Out

A method of which the assumption is that the most recently received (last in) is the first to be used or sold (first out).

Lateral and Front Stacking Truck

High-lift stacking truck capable of stacking and retrieving loads ahead and on either or both sides of the driving direction.

LIFO

Last In First Out in which the loading and discharging plan is being prepared by the Master of the ship

Lift-On Lift-Off Vessel

Vessel of which the loading and discharging operations are carried out by cranes and derricks.

M

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Marine Insurance Policy

An insurance policy protecting the insured against loss or damage to his goods occurred during ocean transport. Some cases the coverage is arranged on warehouse to warehouse basis.

Mighty Servant 1- U.S

Navy ship fought in Second World War for U.S.A. was one of the pioneer heavy

lift ship used by U.S. Navy during the Second World War

Multi Purpose Vessel

Vessel designed for the carriage of different types of cargo: general, bulk, heavy and / or containerized cargo.

O

Offshore

In the sea or inland water ways where the contracting work being carried out at sea on the platform (e.g. drilling for oil) related works at the sea.

Open Sided Container

Shipping container with frames with wire-mesh at the sides covered by means of a tarpaulin which can be dropped down to give unrestricted access to the sides of the container for loading or discharging.

Open Top Container

A freight container similar in all respects to a general purpose container except that it has no rigid roof but may have a flexible and movable or removable cover, for example one made of canvas or plastic or reinforced plastic material normally supported on movable or removable roof bows. The cost for leasing an open top container shall be higher than that of a standard container.

Optimal Trim

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The best calculated TRIM related to speed engine capacity, fuel consumption for a specific sailing condition. This relates to the speed of the ship engine

Optimization

Achieving the best possible solution to a problem in terms of a specified objective function in terms of shipping

Over-width Cargo

Cargo, exceeding the standard width of a standard container and cannot be containerized need to be shipped as break-bulk or heavy lift.

P

Package

Any physical piece of cargo in relation to transport consisting of the contents and its packing for the purpose of ease of handling by manual or mechanical means.

Packaging

Materials used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and presentation of goods and the activities of placing and securing goods in those materials.

Packing Instruction

Document issued within an enterprise giving instructions on how goods are to be packed. Seaworthy packing is mandatory in arranging cargo in ocean transport

Pallet

A platform of wood on which goods can be stacked in order to facilitate the movement by a fork lift or sling intended for easier handling.

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Payload

In shipping-the revenue-producing load carried by a means of transport.

Place of Acceptance

See place of receipt of a cargo

Place of Delivery

The location where a consignment (shipment) is delivered to the consignee viz. the place where the carrier's liability ends for the transport venture

Place of Receipt

The location where a consignment (shipment) is received by the carrier from the shipper viz. the place where the carrier's liability for transport venture commences

Placement

The activity of positioning an object or goods in a chosen location or position of the vessel for smother loading and discharging

Planning

The setting of goals over a certain time and the determination of how to achieve these goals and with what resource

Port

Harbor having facilities for vessels to moor and load or discharge

Left side of a vessel when facing towards the front or forward end

Port of Call

Place where a vessel actually drops anchor or moors during a certain voyage.

Port of Discharge

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The port where the cargo is actually discharged (unloaded) from the sea (ocean) going vessel, usually to port of discharge as per the contract

Port of Loading

The port where the cargo is actually loaded on board the sea (ocean) going vessel usually from the shipper’s nearest port

Pre-carrier

The carrier by which the goods are moved prior to the main transport, similar to inland haulage

Q

Quality (ISO8402)

The totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs.Note: The ISO9000 standards on quality management and quality assurance consists of 4 standards: 9000 guidelines for selection and use, 9001 model for quality assurance in design/development 9002 model for quality assurance in production and installation, 9003 model for quality assurance in final inspection and test, and 9004 guidelines for quality management and quality system elements, part 2 are guidelines for services.

Quality Assurance (ISO8402)

All those planned and systematic actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that a product or service will satisfy given requirements for quality

Quality Control (ISO8402)

The operational techniques and activities that are used to fulfill requirements for quality

Quantity Charge

The unit rate which is lower than the normal rate and applies to shipments meeting specific weight requirements (aircargo)

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Quantity Discount

A proportional reduction of a rate based on quantity (aircargo).

Quarantine

The period during which an arriving vessel, including its equipment, cargo, crew or passengers, suspected to carry or carrying a contagious disease is detained in strict isolation to prevent the spread of such a disease. Recently the crew has to attend medical examinations at the port of call in most of the Middle East Sea ports.

Quay

That part of a wharf which is intended for the mooring of vessels.

R

Roll-on Roll-off

System of loading and discharging a vessel whereby the cargo is driven on and off by means of a ramp.

RoRo

Sequence in which a vessel calls at the ports on her itinerary

Round Trip

A voyage, a journey etc. to a certain place, port or country and back again.

Route

The track along which goods are (to be) transported.

Routing

The determination of the most efficient route(s) that people, goods, materials and or means of transport have to follow

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The process of determining how a shipment will be moved between consignor and consignee or between place of acceptance by the carrier and place of delivery to the consignee

The process of aiding a vessel's navigation by supplying long range weather forecasts and indicating the most economic and save sailing route.

S

Safe Working Load

The maximum load any lifting appliance may handle.

Schedule

A timetable including arrival/departure times of ocean- and feeder vessels and also inland transportation.It refers to named ports in a specific voyage (journey) within a certain trade indicating the voyage number(s).In general: The plan of times for starting and/or finishing activities.

Seaworthiness

Fitness of a vessel to travel in open sea mostly related to a particular voyage with a particular cargo. Seaworthiness of the vessel to carry a particular type of cargo is vital in terms of insurance claims and settlements.

Ship

“One alternate, perhaps more modern, definition of a 'ship' is that of any floating craft which carries and transports cargo in an enclosed space between its hulls for the purpose of earning revenue. For example, passenger ships move 'supercargo' (another name for passengers or persons not working on board), and passengers occupy the enclosed space between those ships' hulls” www.apparelsearch.com

Specially designed conveyance for the inland and marine related transportation

Shipment

A separately identifiable collection of goods to be carriedSee Consignment.Note: In the United States of America the word shipment is used instead of the word consignment.

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Spreader

Device used for lifting containers and unitized cargo.Beam or frame that holds the slings vertical when hoisting a load, to prevent damage to cargo

Supply Chain

A sequence of events in a goods flow which adds to the value of a specific goods. These events may include:-conversion-assembling and/or disassembling-movements and placements

Supply chain management

An attempt to coordinate processes involved in producing, shipping and distributing products, generally with large suppliers. Net markets can extend supply chain management to all trading partners regardless of size because they provide a central hub to integrate information from buyers and sellers.

Supply Vessel

Vessel which carries stock and stores to offshore drilling rigs, platforms

Synergy

The simultaneous joint action of separate parties which, together, have greater total effect than the sum of their individual effects

T

Tracing

The action of retrieving information concerning the whereabouts of cargo, cargo items, consignments or equipment.

Tracking

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The function of maintaining status information, including current location, of cargo, cargo items, consignments or containers either full or empty.

Trailer

A vehicle without motive power, designed for the carriage of cargo and to be towed by a motor vehicle.

Transit Shipment

A shipment passing between one port and another, or between a port and a final destination

Tweendeck

Cargo carrying surface below the main deck dividing a hold horizontally in an upper and a lower compartment where medium sized cargoes can be stored for shipping. Oversized and over dimensional cargo kept and lashed on board a Heavy lift Vessel.

Type of Vessel

The sort of vessel used in the transport process e.g. Container, RoRo, or Multi Purpose.

United Arab Shipping Company (UASC)

The major stake holders of this company belong to Middle Eastern Countries and therefore UASC is a major player in this region. Some of the regional Government contracts stipulate that the cargo transportation to these projects shall be done using UASC as carrier. If such suitable service UASC could not offer then alternative carriers can be used with prior consent of the Governmental Departments.

V

Vessel

A floating structure designed for the transport of cargo and/or passengers.

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Refer-ship

Voyage

A journey by sea from one port or country to another one or, in case of a round trip, to the same port

Voyage Charter

A contract under which the shipowner agrees to carry an agreed quantity of cargo from a specified port or ports to another port or ports for a remuneration called freight, which is calculated according to the quantity of cargo loaded, or sometimes at a lumpsum freight.

Voyage Number

Reference number assigned by the carrier or his agent to the voyage of the vessel which is printed on every Bill of Lading

W

Work Load

The quantity of work ahead assigned to a certain facility such as a work station, capacity group or a department respectively staff-member.

X

X-ray

High frequency electromagnetic ray of short wave-length, capable of penetrating most solid substances which is being used to screen the cargo contents for determining, no banned substances are imported with the cargo.

Y

Yawl

A vessel's small boat moved by one oar operated by the crew

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Z

Zodiac

An inflatable craft for the transport of people usually carried with the mother vessels for rescuing the lives during accidents.

Subject Index

A

B

C

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