Career
Swiss transport and logistics company AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG successfully completed a complex transportation of a main Power Generation Package and associated equipment from Chittagong, Bangladesh to Houston, Texas.
The project initially began in 2023 when a new client asked AsstrA to quote some budgetary shipping and transportation figures for the operation. Two years later the final shipment was successfully performed. Cargo was loaded at the Port of Chittagong from 20th of March and arriving in Houston on 3 June 2025.
The shipment included a power generation package, consisting of generators and all ancillary equipment, weighing a total of 642 metric tons and the overall volume was 3,557 CBM with a total of 40 individual packages. This transportation and overall operation had many unique characteristics, one of which was due to the fact that this was used Power Gen equipment which had to be dismantled and made ready for return shipment to Houston for eventual refurbishment.
As stated this was a complex movement for numerous reasons. The first being this was a part-charter operation with a fixed laycan period for loading at origin port. All equipment was transferred from the point of rest in Bangladesh to the port of exit by barge. Total 4 barges required with a 1 day transit time. Then the loading operation from barge to ship using ships gear was a slow and methodical operation, considering all risk and safety factors. The loading operation went extremely well and all parties played their part well to ensure all cargo was loaded within the agreed 48 hour period.
«The operation and maneuvers in Chittagong from barge to ship proved challenging but being there to support and assist in the process reduced risks and delays. Furthermore there were a number of parties involved so the coordination and management time was ultimately essential and time well spent. Avoidance of delays and additional cost was also a challenge but all overcome through close management, partnerships with Customer and Service Providers plus open and clear communication, but above all else “detailed planning”», — shared Colin Bagwell, Team Leader of IPL North America Division at AsstrA.
Another key component of the logistics operations for this shipment which proved to be challenging was the export customs clearance process in Chittagong which required detailed coordination between multiple stakeholders. Having AsstrA’s experts on-site for the pre-planning stage and during the loading operations, helped ensure smooth handling and the highest safety standards.
This shipment demonstrates AsstrA’s capability in managing high-stakes transportation challenges. AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG continues to build on its reputation for handling complex, high-value, and specialized industrial cargo, emphasizing safety, precision, and customer partnership at every stage.
