July 8 - India's first transfer of heavy lift cargo from ship to barge during the monsoon season has been successfully undertaken by Lift & Shift, a Natvar Parikh Group company.
A 15,000 tonne shipment was destined for energy conglomerate Essar's refinery at Vadinar including two items of heavy and OOG equipment which required the use of heavy lift and ro-ro equipment for unloading.
Draught restrictions prevented the ship from berthing at Essar's jetty in Vadinar and due to the fact that the monsoon season has started, it was not safe for delivery of the equipment to the outer anchorage. Lift & Shift was awarded the responsibility to use its expertise to find a suitable mode for discharging. Lift & Shift used its barge and SPMT axles with 360 degree turning in mid-stream. The operation took 12 hours over two nights. Tidal restrictions meant the operation had to be carried out at night in mid-stream close to the terminal.
Once the unloading was completed, the equipment was lashed and the barge sailed to the Essar's jetty where the equipment was rolled off and placed on jacks.
