Collett Transport delivered two obsolete 147Te Main Inlet Valves (MIVs) from Dinorwig Hydro-Power Station to a specialized facility located in Bangor. The deliveries are part of an ongoing essential upgrade scheme at the power station. Collett had previously delivered two new MIVs earlier this year to replace the existing equipment.

Operating within the mountain, each valve was loaded from the temporary storage area using an overhead gantry crane. The MIVs were loaded onto two 10-axle flat-top trailers. Upon exiting the facility, Collett were challenged with the long exit tunnel, featuring a demanding 10 per cent gradient. To overcome this, Collett implemented a double-headed approach utilising two 8×4 heavy tractor units to pull the valves up the tunnel.

The valves were transported in a convoy along an 11-mile route to a specialist facility located in Bangor. The convoy was accompanied by a police escort and Collett’s abnormal load escort fleet. The whole journey from site to site was completed in just one hour and forty minutes.

Before transportation, Collett’s Projects Department conducted preliminary works, including a comprehensive route survey, lift plans, method statements and risk assessment report. Additionally, Collett’s Heavy Lift Team had previously attended the site, setting up the JS-125 500Te capacity Jack-Up System.

Upon arrival at the specialist facility, each trailer was reversed under the lifting gantry, and the MIVs were offloaded directly from the trailer.