With some consignments, there comes a moment where either the cargo is unsuited to container shipment or there isn’t a container service to the final destination – this where conventional vessels come into play.
These range from the small coaster, sailing from Blyth to Antwerp – right up to ocean-going vessels, sailing from Mumbai to Harwich, both of which have featured in the past.
Having selected the method and route, numerous other aspects come into the frame – packing, cranes, fork lifts, port authorities, stevedores, lashings etc – the slightest ‘omission’ can have dire consequences.
Notable conventional vessel projects in the past have included:
- Shipment on a full charter basis from Bilbao, Spain to Workington, UK – the consignment comprising an overhead gantry system, with the final destination being the nuclear facility at Sellafield.
- The vessel was arriving at Sunderland. The consignment comprised over 650 pieces, totalling 2.300tons. The first task was to discharge and release the vessel within 48 hours, in order to avoid demurrage. The second task was to identify and sort each item, for sequential timed delivery, over a six week period – into the local Nissan plant.
- The task was to move an onshore wind farm from the UK to Lithuania. Not only were STG responsible for dismantling the units – towers, blades and turbines – but also the charter vessel from Falmouth to Klaipeda.
Just a few of the challenging projects faced by the STG Team.
