Career
International transport and logistics company AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG’s Heavy Lift Division works with oversize and overweight cargo. In September of this year, the Division successfully shipped cryogenic air separation unit LxBxH = 27100х4810х4990 mm, weight: 84000 kgs from Ornago, Italy to Volgograd, Russia for Messers Praxair, a key Client who is one of the largest producers and suppliers of industrial gases in the world.
Preparation for transport took two months. AsstrA specialists reviewed the geographical area of the shipment and chose to execute a series of wharf transshipments in Italy, Rostov-on-Don, and in Volgograd. During the project, 6 different suppliers were involved, three crane transshipments were made, a barge roll-off was organized, and a crane-free rearrangement of the cargo was made before entering the receiver's plant. The transportation period lasted 50 days.
“This project was quite complicated to execute mainly because of limited or insufficient infrastructure along the route for oversize cargo. As a result, it was necessary to make a variety of special arrangements with various government and private authorities and organizations. These arrangements involved repairs, widening and reinforcing roads, dismantling of electrical wires, special reinforcement of railway crossings, changing infrastructure, constructing berthing facilities, and building access roads to Volgograd. All within a limited time frame,” reports Egor Lokhovinin, AsstrA Heavy Lift Division Specialist.
"Undertaking these measures significantly increased the risks of delaying the production of expensive equipment. Successful cargo transshipment in the port of Rostov-on-Don was particularly critical. There it was necessary to organize unloading the cargo from a sea vessel using ordered long in advance additional crane, same time to organize import customs clearance and load the cargo onto river going pontoon – all within one working day. Thanks to the team’s coordinated work the operation was carried out without delays or equipment idle time. Such risks were also avoided during transshipment operations at the port of loading and at the roll-off operations at Volgograd jetty," continues Egor Lokhovinin.
"After sea vessel arrival to the Port of Rostov-on-Don customs clearance performed within 2 hours only. Then there was transshipment from the vessel through the Rostov Universal Port to the prepared river pontoon. Cargo was reloaded by using also railway recovery crane in tandem with a stationary mobile crane. In parallel, work was carried out to strengthen and retrofit the Ro-Ro berth in Volgograd for the subsequent safe roll-off of the cargo from the barge. In the last leg of the transportation a few electric lines en-route were disconnected and oversized road train crossed the railway in a limited time window. Access road was partially repaired and widened with the help of 14 dump trucks with gravel and non-stop work of road machinery. In front of plant gates the cargo was transloaded by crane-free operation onto a lower trailer modification in order to reduce the overall trailer height so one may pass under the over head constructions inside the plant just to the place of installation which started the next day after delivery." says Egor Lokhovinin.
The AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG corporate group helps clients initiate ongoing deliveries of oversized cargo. The company’s experts organize freight transportation via various modes in Europe, the CIS, Baltics, Balkans as well as Eastern and Central Asia. The AsstrA team takes Client needs and cargo specifications into account, identifies the optimal delivery route, and calculates the cost of transportation of overweight cargoes. AsstrA organizes delivery within the agreed time frame irrespective of destination.
“AsstrA Heavy Lift specialists thoroughly know the intricacies of working with oversized cargo – especially its transportation. Therefore, the company's experts ensure maximum safety of cargo during transportation and storage, adhere to all sanitary and technical standards, and take into account all legal regulations concerning the transportation of oversized cargo. Cooperation with proven and reliable suppliers of transport services allows us to develop and select the most efficient routes, coordinate all stages of delivery and transport any cargo promptly within a defined timeframe. AsstrA Heavy Lift loves ambitious projects," added Przemysław Boroński, Head of the AsstrA Heavy Lift Division.
