Project Logistics is a unique
segment within the international transportation industry.
While the transportation of
consumer goods in containers can be arranged on very short notice, with
fast container carriers, fixed day sailings from/to most ports around
the globe, and ease in inland transportation, project logistics deals
with completely different criteria.
Project cargo usually comprises
of engineered equipment with long lead times of up to two years. Most
equipment is custom made and cannot be replaced on short notice. With
global sourcing and subsequent multiple origins, equipment must arrive
at the job site to fit in the client’s Critical Path. Many job sites are
in remote inland areas of the recipient country. This requires intense
research as to the safest methods of transportation available in a
particular area, considering very heavy equipment and/or extreme
dimensions.
Project cargo movements require
not only a very high degree of expertise, but a logistics contractor
must do extensive research for each individual job, including
origin/destination route surveys.
In many cases destination ports
lack proper discharge equipment (shore cranes) and depth of water
(draught). Special self geared vessels with low draught requirements
have to be contracted in order to land the equipment safely.
Route surveys include an
assessment of the available infrastructure, verifying load limits of
bridges, passage possibility of tunnels to name only a few aspects. The
availability of transport equipment, i.e. hydraulic trailers and cranes,
especially in rural areas has to be researched, and solutions have to be
found if equipment is not available locally.
At Lionheart, all of our teams
have many years of project related experience, and are able to deal with
the most intricate and complex transport issues to/from most parts of
the world. We recognize the high degree of responsibility towards our
clients in moving their equipment, and are very much aware of the fact,
that one missing piece of equipment can
lead to a power plant not producing electricity, not to mention huge
penalties, which you – our client may encounter.
