deugro UK, deugro China, deugro Chartering, and the local team at deugro Antwerp have collaborated to ensure the timely delivery of ten storage bullets and additional equipment from China to the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, for the construction of Europe's most sustainable ethane cracker.

In a statement, deugro said the cargo units at the Gangxin Heavy Equipment Port of Zhangjiagang, China — with single weights of up to 738 metric tons, measurements of up to 47.8 x 9.2 x 11.5 meters and an overall weight of more than 6,890 metric tons — were loaded onto the DP2 heavy lift crane vessel Jumbo Fairplayer and the K3000-class heavy lift vessel Jumbo Fairmaster.

This is one of only two ships from the K-class family in existence worldwide with a combined Safe Working Load (SWL) of 3,000 metric tons.

 [Source: deugro]

"A challenge was to identify and secure sufficient vessel space on suitable heavy lift vessels with the appropriate lifting capacities and within the tight schedule of only six weeks, from the receipt of the order to loading," said Kai von Taube, head of global chartering at deugro.

He noted that such vessels, which can safely handle and ship sensitive oversized and heavy lift (OSHL) components, are limited and often booked for considerable periods in advance.

deugro noted that the first vessel to sail was the Jumbo Fairplayer, loading two C4 product storage bullets and three C4 import storage bullets with a total volume of 25,286.20 CBM weighing 2,857.80 metric tons.

The Jumbo Fairmaster followed three weeks later, carrying two PGP and three CGP storage bullets — totalling 25,286.20 CBM and weighing 3,690 metric tons.

Four of the five storage bullets were loaded and stowed on the vessel’s weather deck, and the fifth one was in the lower hold for each of the two ocean voyages.

To safely stow and secure each of the four storage bullets on the weather deck, some of the vessel's tween deck hatch covers were positioned on the weather deck to serve as load-spreading equipment, with various stoppers used as longitudinal and transversal securing.

For lifting, manoeuvring and positioning the remaining storage bullet safely and efficiently in the vessel's lower hold, which is limited in space and size, precision down to the centimetre was required due to the weight and sensitivity of the oversized cargo components.

For this purpose, the carrier designed detailed method statements, which the engineers of dteq Transport Engineering Solutions (dteq) cross-checked.

"dteq was requested to prepare the overarching method statement for the project, reviewing and commenting on the different subcontractors' input and ensuring that the interfaces are addressed and the solutions developed are workable for all engaged parties," said Arlan Baylon, regional director of dteq APAC.

The loading and load-securing operations were executed within approximately five days per vessel.

After 12,958 nautical miles and 53 days, each vessel punctually arrived at the Port of Antwerp so that the vessel's cranes could timely discharge all cargo units under the supervision of deugro UK's teams and the client's Marine Warranty Surveyor.