March 12 - In Kandla port, India, SAL's Anne-Sofie discharged three reactors weighing 703 tonnes, 724 tonnes and 848 tonnes, respectively and all more than 30 m in length.
These reactors were manufactured by Larsen & Toubro at its Hazira manufacturing complex and were brought from Hazira to Mumbai by barge and transshipped onto SAL's ship at the Mumbai inner anchorage for shipment to Kandla.
SAL said that the challenge of handling the three heavy lifts in a 24 hour period at Kandla was a 'mammoth task', bearing in mind the tidal range and the restriction at berth.
The task was accomplished in less than 24 hours as a result of advance planning onboard the ship by the master and crew who had rigged the first reactor for discharge prior to the vessel's berthing.
Prior to the shipments, intensive planning meetings were held between Larsen & Toubro, consignees HMEL, Sai Maritime, barge operators Lift & Shift and transporters Reshamsingh & Co. to ensure a smooth loading and discharge operation.
