Mercator Cargo Systems were recently instructed to organise the shipping of a large crane from the UK to Thailand. This project required substantial planning and pre-shipment organisation to ensure the most efficient transit cost and speed.
We shipped the boom sections, counterweights, winching system and hooks in multiple containers whilst the main crane body was shipped on MAFI trailers using roll-on-roll-off (RORO) cargo vessels.
The total weight was approx. 152,000kgs. We had to carefully plan every stage from arrival at the load point, to handling into the containers and then moving the laden containers and platforms to ships side. The cargo was then transported by sea from the Port of Southampton to Taichung, Taiwan.
The cargo was a tricky mixture of voluminous pieces and smaller denser pieces (for example, the 14m long section of luffer was only 1.5t in weight, whereas the counterweights, although only 25cms thick were over 12t each).
This meant we had to carefully plan which containers we would require, where in a container the components would sit (taking into account weight distribution and floor strength), what we could load with what based on the shape of the cargo, and how to secure the cargo once manoeuvred in to the container or on to the platform. It was a challenge to get it right.
We were successful first time round and even managed to consolidate the number of containers required down from 8 to 7, meaning we saved our clients even more money. By sending the boom sections, counterweights, winching system and hooks in containers rather than with the main crane body as part of the RORO cargo, we managed to save our clients a substantial sum of money.
If you are looking for a freight forwarder who looks outside the box and can think their way around problems like this, call us on 02392 75 65 75 or request a quote online.
Mercator Cargo is an established freight forwarder in the UK. Celebrating its 20th year in business in 2011 it is a long standing member of the British International Freight Association.
With extensive experience in all aspects of freight transport, customs clearance and international shipping, the companies dedicated team of freight forwarders are able to find you the most reliable and cost effective international sea, road, air and rail freight forwarding services for your cargo.
