August 21 - Hansa Heavy Lift (HHL) has transported six rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, each weighing 135 tonnes and measuring 28.9 m x 11.3 m x 26.6 m, from Japan to Turkey.
All units were loaded onto the vessel HHL Kobe at the Port of Saiki, Japan, with two of the cranes being discharged at the Port of Gebze and the remaining four at the harbour of Gemlik, Turkey.
HHL extended the deck of the vessel by 6 m to the aft side and 3 m to the starboard side, as well as stowing a total of 11 tweendeck pontoons on deck to ensure there was sufficient space between the units.
The strength of the extension tweendeck panels was verified through a finite element analysis, while 3D model assimilation was also created before the start of the voyage to check the clearance between the RTGs and the vessels' cranes.
"Due to the sensitivity of the cargo units, additional precautions needed to be taken, including a motion response analysis to determine the effects of any accelerations on the cargo during the voyage," added Mohammad Abbas, project engineer, HHL.
The project was carried out on behalf of Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding, with Yilport Konteyner Terminal Ve Liman Isletmeleri acting as the charterer.
