MILE HIGH HEAVY LIFT TRANSHIPMENT

Case Studies

Introduction
Two transformers supplied by a specialist manufacturer in Argentina were included on the critical equipment list for a new hydroelectric generating plant being constructed in southern Chile. Each transformer weighed 45 tonnes and after careful consideration, the project owners and managers, decided to transport this equipment from factory to final site by road a journey of some 3000 km, including the crossing of the Andes mountains. The transportation plan for the transformers was based on a review of both commercial and logistical factors. The location of the manufacturing plant in Cordoba is 1,200 km from the nearest Argentine port (Buenos Aires), and the final construction site in Los Angeles was situated 600 km from the nearest Chilean port (Concepcin). The alternative sea & road voyage, via the Panama Canal, would have taken longer, cost more and required multiple load and discharge handling operations for the equipment. Each transformer was shipped separately using a 40 wheeled Self Propelled Modular Trailer (SPMT), hauled by a 6-wheel drive tractor unit. The shortest and most direct road route across the Andes is the Cristo Redentor tunnel crossing between Mendoza and Los Andes. However, the transformers were too high to pass through the tunnel, and the transit was therefore planned to use the more southerly Barriloche / Puyehue open road route.

MILE HIGH BREAK DOWN

Break down in the Andes

Whilst hauling the second transformer over the 1500 m high Andes pass, the tractor unit sustained a mechanical fault to the differential and the transit effectively broke down at the border between Argentina and Chile. Attempts to repair the tractor unit proved unsuccessful and a replacement multi-wheel drive tractor unit for hauling a SPMT was not available in the near term. It was ultimately decided to tranship the transformer to a replacement tractor-trailer combination. Due to the severe lack of availability of suitable mobile cranes for such a job in such a location, the only practical option was to transfer the transformer using hydraulic rams to push/pull the unit horizontally from one trailer to another. A substitute tractor and semi-trailer unit was sourced from Argentina along with two mechanical engineers equipped with a hydraulic pumping unit, a series of heavy duty hydraulic rams and multiple chains, shackles, hooks, railway sleepers and lengths of railway line. Following detailed liaison with both Argentina and Chilean border police and customs officials, it was agreed that the mountain road could be closed for one day to allow the transhipment to take place. The substitute trailer was parked alongside the broken down unit and both trailers were jacked up from wheels using hydraulic rams, levelled and secured. Then the transformer was jacked up from the original trailer and two lengths of heavily greased railway line were placed transversely underneath the transformer base plates. The hydraulic rams were then reconfigured to effectively pull the transformer laterally across the railway lines until it was in position above the substitute trailer. Once in position, the transformer was secured and the jacks were used once more to lower the transformer and then to lower the trailer onto its wheels.

LEVELLING THE TRAILERS

Due to the steep upward gradient of the road at the point of transhipment being too severe for the tractor to pull such a heavy load from a standing start, the CSL surveyor and project engineer agreed that the tractor-trailer unit should be reversed down the hill approximately 1.5 km to a location where the road was flat and the tractor could achieve a running start.

CSL Group is a leading provider of professional claims, risk control and recovery services to the marine insurance industry and to clients operating in and around the global cargo, shipping, transportation and supply chain sectors.

Volume 2

May 2007

CSLs Involvement
CSL Global was originally appointed to this project as cargo warranty surveyor acting on behalf of London underwriters and was involved in the planning and supervision of the load, discharge and transportation operations for all critical items of equipment. As soon as it became apparent that the unscheduled transhipment of the transformer was necessary, CSLs Santiago based surveyor, made his way to the scene to provide further risk management input and to supervise the transhipment on behalf of underwriters. PREPARING THE TRANSHIPMENT USING HYDRAULIC JACKS, RAMS and RAILWAY LINES.

Challenges

This assignment created a number of unique operational challenges for the small group of specialists working as a team: Shortage of specialist equipment and personnel particularly at short notice in remote, rural areas. Tight time schedules to deliver equipment to construction site within contracted time frames, and limited permission to close a critical and busy international roadway to all traffic whilst operations took place. Need to improvise using tried and tested engineering techniques, not necessarily common place in the normal cargo handling environment. No mobile phone communications due to no signal being available at remote mountain locations. Lack of refreshments and toilet facilities!

Conclusions
Long road transits can form a necessary component of any project cargo transit schedule. Whilst in this case, a full logistical and commercial cost benefit analysis was made of best means of transportation, there are projects where the overriding consideration factor is cost. This can result in extremely long and arduous land journeys with attendant additional exposure to enhanced road risks, including bridge and building strikes, dust accumulation, road traffic accidents and breakdowns. As can be seen in this study, the sourcing of professional repairs, replacement parts or substitute vehicles can present an extremely difficult challenge. Having attended many heavy lift discharge operations in remote Latin American locations, CSLs local surveyor had in fact previously been involved in supervising the use of hydraulic rams and jacks to offload and position heavy items of equipment at final site destination. As such, he was able to quickly integrate with a group of diversified industry professionals to achieve a positive team result.

UNDERWAY AGAIN

About CSL Case Studies

CSL Case Studies were first introduced in 2002 as a way of sharing technical knowledge around the group companies and to support marketing activities to key clients. The most popular studies have been used for both internal and external training purposes and remain available to download from our company websites.

Contact CSL
For more information about this case study or about CSL operations in Latin America, please contact our Regional Director, Jorge Viuela on +562 234 5699 or j.vinuela@cslglobal.com For more information about CSL Group and the products and services we provide please contact us by phone: +44 (0) 207 868 1845 or by e-mail: contact@cslglobal.com or visit our website at: www.cslglobal.com

CSL Group is a leading provider of professional claims, risk control and recovery services to the marine insurance industry and to clients operating in and around the global cargo, shipping, transportation and supply chain sectors.

Volume 2

May 2007