OPTARA project begins

Specialized heavy lift and transport service provider ALE and Belgium-based Aertssen will begin transporting modules at the port of Antwerp, Belgium.

The task is part of Total’s €1 billion (US$ 1.2 billion) OPTARA project at Total’s refining and petrochemical complex in Antwerp, Belgium.

The cargo weighs 1,050 tonnes and is 24 metres long, 11 m wide and 23 m tall. It will be the largest cargo to be transported through the Port of Antwerp, a spokesperson said. The move is scheduled to take place today.

“The first modules started transportation from the manufacturing yard in Tarragona, Spain, onto a heavy lift ship to Belgium in October,” a company spokesperson said.

On arrival in Antwerp, ALE and Aertssen will use 80 axle lines of self propelled modular transporters (SPMT) to transport the modules.

Yannick Sel, ALE projects sales manager, said, “Previous loads have never exceeded 800 tonnes so transporting the Port’s heaviest load ever weighing 1,000 tonnes is an historic moment we are proud to be a part of. Preparations have been made for this over the last months and we are looking forward to receiving the module in due course. This epic undertaking is only possible because of the expertise from both Aertssen and ALE.”

Koen Van Dyck, Aertssen account and project manager, added, “Operations have well started and soon we will be at full operating speed. The good teamwork of ALE and Aertssen makes it a big pleasure to bring this impressive project to a happy end.”

The project is scheduled to be completed in March 2015.