The Heavy Lift Group has flown 340 tonnes of oil & gas equipment to Kuwait in a last-minute workaround in regards to Covid-19. Divided over three flights, the company used an Antonov AN-124 aircraft to move the seven pieces of machinery which each weighed between 25 and 35 tonnes. 

The charter flights were organized in a short time frame. “On 25 May 2020, a Kuwait client decided to change the transport of 340 tonnes of equipment from sea freight into airfreight due to recent virus lockdown, which has resulted in big construction delays in Kuwait”, says David Yan of The Heavy Lift Group.

“The decision was quick. And delivery was not easy”, Yan adds. The company had to quickly come up with a new transport schedule and lashing designs. “We were discussing with the loading master every day about how to design the shackles, frames and slings. Luckily we were introduced by a France supplier to seek their contracted engineers to make seven special frames with slings and shackles within five days.”

In order to maintain a good loading balance of the AN124, the seven heavy packages were divided into 3 flights which each arrived within two days of each other.