The Heat Exchanger Project Cargo
The task was to transport a Heat Exchanger from Vilaseca in Tarragona, Spain to Veracruz in Mexico.
The task was to transport a Heat Exchanger from Vilaseca in Tarragona, Spain to Veracruz in Mexico.
A Heat Exchanger is a device built for efficient heat transfer from one medium to another. The media may be separated by a solid wall, so that they never mix, or they may be in direct contact. They are widely used in space heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, power plants, chemical plants, petrochemical plants, petroleum refineries, natural gas processing, and sewage treatment.”
In our case, we were transporting a heat exchanger for a petroleum refinery with the following characteristics:
FACTORY LOADING
Vilaseca (Tarragona)
Loading Started…
Due to traffic restrictions, we had to divide the process into 3 stages. The first one was to load the Heat Exchanger into the platform during normal working hours.
Everything went well as we had constant communication with the factory technicians. The most important part was to consider the width of the platform as it couldn’t be more than 3 meters wide to fit under the saddles.
Loading Started…
The Heat Exchanger was loaded on a special platform upon two steel cradles placed at aft and front and was lashed on the truck by means of steel chains as follows:
*2 chains at front crossed lashed.
*2 other double chain sat front.
*2 double chains at both sides at aft.
*2 transversal steel wires (with exterior protection) at aft and other two at front lashed to the Heat Exchanger’s cradles.
OVERNIGHT TRANSPORT
Vilaseca to Tarragona Port
Taking the road…
The transport was arranged at 23:00hrs due to traffic restrictions and the route was Vila-Seca A-7, T 315, N 340, C 31a, N 340, N 241.
Three police cars accompanied the truck. We also accompanied the truck during its course from the shipper’s premises until the port of Tarragona. The next day at 01:30hrs the truck arrived to Tarragona Port in perfect conditions. At the Tarragona Port the M/V “SKODSBORG” vessel was moored starboard side alongside at Terminal DP WORLD TARRAGONA, “Muelle Andalucia” quay.
Loading to Vessel
The loading operations in DP Tarragona Quay of the Heat Exchanger started at 12:40 hours and were carried out by the stevedores using 2 shore cranes; one DEMAG AC400 and one LIEBHERR LHM 500.
Stowage and Lashing operations
The Heat Exchanger was finally stowed with its cradles, over wooden dunnage at the centre to starboard side between stacks of containers. It was secured with 20 used lashing chains and 7 used lashing belts (loop lashing).