Shanghai-headquartered IFLN Network and IFLN Global Projects member, City Union Logistics, recently handled the shipment of three large transformers from Jinan in Shandong state, China, to a new power station at Abu Qir, Egypt.

City Union Logistics won the work in August last year following an extremely competitive tender process, says the cargo agent’s vice general manager (overseas business/project/air freight), Tina Lin. The transformers were subsequently shipped between November 2019 and early this year.

The shipments were handled for a regular client of City Union Logistics, Shandong Equipment Power Works (SPECO).

The cargo – the three transformers and various accessories – weighed in at a total of nearly 700 tonnes. Each transformer weighed 125 tons and measured 7.4m by 3.85m by 4.4m.

City Union Logistics was responsible for all the documentation necessary for the movement, as well as the inland transportation of the cargo from the factory at Jinan to the Chinese port of Tianjin, the chartering of the ocean-going vessel COSCO Jixiang Song, cargo reception at the port of Alexandria, pick up by trailer at the terminal, and then transportation of the transformers and their accessories to the Abu Qir job site.

In fact, the forwarder was responsible for the entire door-to-door transportation process, although it benefited from the help of an agent in Egypt that locally handled the cargo at the port terminal at Alexandria and subsequent transport to the final destination at Abu Qir.

As is City Union Logistics’ usual practice, an extensive study and survey was conducted regarding the origin, destination and potential travel route. Indeed, says Lin, “Each point of the entire project was carefully assessed to ensure a foolproof and smooth journey of the cargo”.

Overland, the transformers were moved by self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) and offloaded using jack and slide. The entire movement door-to-door involved overcoming numerous challenges, she points out, but Lin herself had plenty of experience to fall back on, having previously handled the shipment of 14 transformers to Egypt back in 2017-18.

By way of example, Lin points to one particular obstacle that had to be surmounted. A ladder on the transformer extended up to 5m off the ground, exceeding the height that could be handled by the vessel, but Lin worked with port terminal and sea carrier to ensure the removal of the ladder and separately lift of it on board. Once all the cargo had arrived at destination, the complete unit was re-assembled.

 

 

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