A word from GPLN:                                                                                                                  Newsletter Issue 95 / November-December 2023

Dear Reader,

After the great success of this year’s AGM in Rotterdam with a record-breaking attendance of over 210 GPLN delegates, we will hold our 19th AGM from May 18-20, 2024 again in The Netherlands, followed by our renown Heavy Transport and Lifting Seminar on May 21, 2024 which is also open for non-members.

Since we are celebrating in 2024 our 20 Years Anniversary, we have selected the unique 5-star Hilton Hotel in the seaside city of The Hague (Den Haag) where both GPLN events will take place. Please refer for more details to our dedicated websites.

Both GPLN events can be combined with Breakbulk Europe which follows from May 21-23, 2024 at Ahoy Convention Center Rotterdam. GPLN will exhibit at this event together with several GPLN members and has secured a prime location in the main hall with a 36 sqm booth which is the equivalent to 4 regular stands.

The GPLN team will also exhibit from February 12-13, 2024 at Breakbulk Middle East at Dubai World Trade Centre. We will be joined by several GPLN member companies: transmaritim international/Germany, Indial Shipping/India, JSL Global/Qatar & Oman, ITM Projects/Mexico, Expo Freight/India, Splendour Marine/UAE and AZKA Shipping&Logistics/Iraq.

We are looking forward to meeting our members and visitors during this event in Dubai at our GPLN Booth #E02, which is located just on the left side of the main entrance in Hall 7.

Furthermore, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all members for their continued support of GPLN and also our AGM sponsors for the great support of this year’s annual conference. Please refer to our sponsor banner below.

As this is our last newsletter for this year, we wish you all the best for 2024.
Kind regards,

Your GPLN Team

PROTRANSER handle heavy equipment from Italy

© Protranser International Logistics Co., Ltd. All rights reserved

GPLN member PROTRANSER’s team from China handled a unit of 136 tons equipment imported from Ortona, Italy to Fangcheng, China. The was a top gas heat recuperator and the dimension was 16,98m*4,53m*4,63m(LWH). Working scope included: chartering breakbulk vessel from Italy to China, customs clearance service and delivering the cargo to nominated jobsite.

The challenges and solutions: 1. Ortona is not a basic port, we negotiated with BB carrier to add a loading port into the schedule for the cargo; 2. Delivery delay: BB carrier agreed to wait for the cargo after communication due to a truck breakdown on the way to the port; 3. Typhoon hit POD. The original plan was to load cargo on a barge from BB vessel directly, however this was forbidden for safety reason during that time.

Our team immediately activated a backup plan by mobilizing low-bed trailers overnight to save cost for our client and delivered the cargo to the jobsite on time, who was satisfied with our service.

Transmaritim international transport deicing units

Winter is coming, and that right soon! GPLN member transmaritim international from Germany successfully transported 2 deicing units, all the way from Europe to CIS state.

Jockey-service, ferryboat transit, as well as final leg under railway operation,
enable our customer to reach an ambitious deadline and successfully deliver both units before colder season start. Although driving by Russian Federation territory, transmaritim succeeded to cover the full transport with transport insurance form a German insurance company, as logistics service to our customer.

Hamag Group and Tiel Logistics team-up on a project

Transportation of a Reactor and Delivery of Cranes

GPLN member Milaha’s Project Logistics competence and client dedication were demonstrated by the successful transfer of a 92-ton De-Sulphuration Reactor for a prominent energy business, guaranteeing the timely completion of a shutdown* despite technical, and administrative challenges. During a recent shutdown, Milaha’s Project Logistics demonstrated its expertise and devotion to a client who sought support transporting a 92-ton De-Sulphuration reactor from Sohar Port, Oman to Hamad Port, Qatar.

Milaha efficiently allocated the best vessel and equipment for transporting the reactor safely, ensuring the success of the shutdown operation.Despite the technical and administrative challenges of a last-minute booking, multiple authorizations, and the involvement of multiple parties, Milaha’s established record of accomplishment in project logistics resulted in a successful transfer. The swift arrival of the reactor ensured that the planned shutdown could proceed.

Milaha demonstrated also its prowess in project logistics by successfully delivering large-scale cranes to its clients from Dubai to Doha. With a strategic approach, Milaha’s project logistics team has showcased its capability to handle complex and heavy cargo.

The challenge was transporting five massive cranes from Dubai to Ras Laffan, Qatar, ensuring safe and efficient delivery within a tight timeframe. These cranes ranged from 30 tons to a massive 250 tons in weight, demanding meticulous planning and execution.

Milaha project logistics team devised a comprehensive strategy combining expertise and seamless coordination. This operation ensured that the entire logistics operation, from door pickup in Dubai to door delivery in Ras Laffan, Qatar, was executed efficiently.

The transit time averaged 4-5 days, allowing clients to receive their cranes promptly. As a full-service provider, Milaha Hareket Crane Move managed all aspects of the logistics process, including customs clearance at the UAE, Saudi, and Qatar borders.

They partnered with authorized agents to ensure a smooth and hassle-free border crossing for the cranes, further simplifying the logistics for their clients. Milaha’s successful delivery of these cranes exemplifies their excellence in project logistics.

Total Movements execute critical ODCs

GPLN member Total Movements from India successfully handled a Multimodal Movement of Critical ODCs for an Airside Infrastructure Project in South America. They executed this Door-to-Port Movement of 8 nos./1200 freight tons of ODCs from the supplier’s works in India up-to the designated discharge port.

Road Transportation from the supplier’s works to the load port, export custom clearance and Ocean freight of the Breakbulk cargo from India to South America involved our scope. The following were the features of this shipment: Arranging specific trailers as per the cargo’s specifications in no time / An extremely time-bound shipment / Design of Lifting plan in close coordination with the supplier / Booking a suitable vessel for shipping the Breakbulk cargo saving the transit time of nearly a month. Notwithstanding the narrow delivery window, the ODCs were delivered to their destination promptly and in compliance with all safety standards.

Fairtrans Marine deliver HP-Carbonate Condenser

It is a great honor for GPLN member Fairtrans from Egypt to deliver a complete HP-Carbonate Condenser from Venice,” Porto Maghera”, to Sokhna port, Egypt, by heavy lifting vessel. The total volume was 5 packages including accessories @ 128,100 kg and 285,445 CBM while the weight of the heaviest unit was 126.500 mega tons with dimensions of 17,550m x 3,560m x 4,440m. By using the vessel’s two lifting cranes in a safe and timely manner, the unit was discharged successfully.

The team performed this operation with complete success showing their expertise in handling such specialized logistic challenges.

Ryan Agencies complete breakbulk project

GPLN member Total Movements from India successfully handled a Multimodal Movement of Critical ODCs for an Airside Infrastructure Project in South America. They executed this Door-to-Port Movement of 8 nos./1200 freight tons of ODCs from the supplier’s works in India up-to the designated discharge port.

Road Transportation from the supplier’s works to the load port, export custom clearance and Ocean freight of the Breakbulk cargo from India to South America involved our scope.

The following were the features of this shipment: Arranging specific trailers as per the cargo’s specifications in no time / An extremely time-bound shipment / Design of Lifting plan in close coordination with the supplier / Booking a suitable vessel for shipping the Breakbulk cargo saving the transit time of nearly a month.

Notwithstanding the narrow delivery window, the ODCs were delivered to their destination promptly and in compliance with all safety standards.

CETA Logistics handles cargo for Cement Production and Clinker Plant in Iraq

GPLN member CETA Logistics & Projects from Turekey arranged recently transportation for a new 6,000 TPD Capacity Cement Production and Clinker Plant in Erbil, Northern Iraq. This project is covering 180’000 m3 breakbulk cargoes and is executed with OOG and Heavy Loads and more than 2,000 container loads. It is planned to be completed in 2 years in total.

CETA Logistics & Projects will start its new logistics investments in Iraq at the beginning of next year with its Chinese partners. It plans to be one of the major players in the region.

Advantis Projects Deliver Sri Lanka’s Largest Tunnel Boring Machines

Sri Lanka’s undisputed leaders in project logistics and heavy cargo transportation, GPLN member Advantis Projects, a subsidiary of Hayleys PLC was moving swiftly ahead with the delivery of two of the largest Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) to ever be deployed on the island, expediting progress on one of the nation’s most ambitious modern irrigation developments: the North Central Province Canal Project (NCPCP).

Also known as the Upper Elahera Canal project, the development envisions the construction of an underground tunnel to transfer water between the Kalu Ganga Reservoir and the Moragahakanda Reservoir; as well as construction of the Upper Elehera Canal to connect the Moragahakanda Reservoir to the Huruluwewa, Manakattiya, Eruwewa, and Mahakanadarawa Reservoirs.

Upon completion, the project will provide clean drinking water to over 25,000 families in 13 divisional secretariat divisions across Sri Lanka’s water-stressed North Central Province. The project will also provide critical support to national efforts to enhance food security by providing new life to Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector, through the irrigation of over 43,000 hectares of essential cultivations.

The two record-breaking TBMs delivered by Advantis Projects will be utilized to drill 28 kms of tunnel that will supply water to a series of small tanks used for agricultural irrigation – just in time for the next Yala and Maha season. With the first unit having already reached its destination, Advantis Projects is now in the process of delivering the second to its construction site in Attanakadawela.

While construction on a scale as ambitious as the NCPCP comes with its own obstacles, an equally complex challenge was the transport of collective 3,000 tons / 8,000 cubic meters of heavy machinery from the point they were unloaded off the cargo ships at Trincomalee Port and subsequently transported across narrow, winding roads, to isolated and remote construction sites, covering a total of more than 25,000 kilometers in just under 50 days.

“Transporting the two largest TBMs ever attempted in Sri Lanka is a highly complex and challenging task. Both machines were built with significant investment, and given its national significance, we treated the project as extremely high value, meaning that safe and timely delivery was of utmost importance. “We are proud to note that Advantis Projects has taken this challenge head on, and successfully leveraged our wealth of advanced technical expertise, and best-in-class technology to once again deliver logistics solutions that support our entire nation,” Hayleys Advantis Group Director, Janitha Jayanetti said.

Given that the transportation of these units cannot damage road networks or cause undue inconvenience to Sri Lankan citizens, when taking on such projects, Advantis Projects also undertakes end-to-end responsibility for an exhaustive list of supporting functions. Accordingly, as part of the overall delivery, Advantis Projects also undertook the widening of numerous roads leading up to the delivery site, in addition to strengthening and reinforcing several smaller bridges along the route to the construction site.

This in turn required the company to coordinate and work in close collaboration with Government authorities such as the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Road Development Authority, Urban Development Authority, Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Navy and other connected state institutions and local authorities.

“Prior to the cargo even reaching the port, we conduct multiple inspections of the route to the final destination. This included making sure that all of the roads, bridges and tunnels were wide and strong enough to accommodate our specialized multi-axel trailers. We also utilized advanced 3D computer simulations of the entire route down to the last inch, as well as multiple real-world test-runs to ensure that we planned with total accuracy for every possible eventuality,” Advantis Projects, Director/CEO, Shadil Rizan explained.

Remarkably, the entire project was undertaken by just over 60 employees, including in-house engineers, project managers, operations executives and other skilled staff, who committed in excess of 35,000-man hours.
The specialized project logistics and heavy cargo transportation services provided for the NCPCP was the latest in a series of milestone projects that have been successfully undertaken by Advantis Projects. Most recently the company has also added and contributed towards several of Sri Lanka’s largest civilian infrastructure development projects.

Blaiklock International Logistics move Shredder Machine

Modern Freight Company (MFC) handles complex project

The MFC Extreme Project & Events team, a GPLN member from UAE, undertook a new and challenging project to transport a 20-ton and 18-metre-long luxury yacht from Dubai to the pristine seas of the Maldives. The complex project included 120 km journey by road to transport the yacht from the shipbuilders in Dubai to Fujairah Port and then loading it on the ship to the Maldives.

It was completed successfully by their expert team. Inclement weather was a challenge, but the meticulous planning of the team saved the day. They ensured that the boat was delivered flawlessly, ahead of schedule in the Maldives for the upcoming tourist season.

FOX Brasil handle Cerrado Project, Manipulators 120ER, 70 ER, 70M

As the operation concluded, a detailed report was prepared, categorizing insights by equipment and machine types – a tangible record and valuable data for future logistical endeavors.