Logistics and shipping company has successfully undertaken one of its toughest ever assignments
A specialist team at Quality Freight UK was brought in by fast growing chemicals distributor Newport Industries to oversee the movement of two massive VIGAN ship unloader units from Tilbury Power Station to Canada Dock in Liverpool. Newport Industries bought the 50 metre high, 140 tonne unloaders from RWE following the closure of the power station in October 2013.
The unloaders had been used by RWE to discharge wood pellets and will now be used by Newport Industries for the discharge of soda ash used in glass making. John Keenan, Chartering Director at Quality Freight UK, oversaw the operation to move the unloaders, working closely with colleagues at RWE and Newport Industries.
John said: “This was a highly complex project, one of the biggest jobs Quality Freight UK has undertaken.
“We brought in experienced naval architects Graham and Woolnough for their marine engineering and practical expertise. Dismantling the units involved unbolting them from their legs and dropping on to the quay. In total, there were more than 20 pieces that had to be broken down.
“VIGAN sent a taskforce to dismantle the cranes. We could not get roadside cranes on to the jetty which meant we used a self-sustaining vessel with 122 tonne cranes to load the cargo.
“In total, it took four days to dismantle and load at Tilbury and a further day unloading at Liverpool. From start to finish, this was quite some feat of engineering and a real demonstration of the expertise of everyone involved.”
