UK’s abnormal loads specialist, Allelys, is continuing to support the Slough Multifuel expansion project and the energy from waste sector. The company has recently been awarded seven separate scopes of work for five individual clients to supply a complete transport solution for the project. 

One of the scopes required the transportation of 97 components ranging from 50 kg up to 64 te. The pieces were split across two shipments arriving from India. “Originally it was identified that the cargo would be delivered into Felixstowe or Southampton due to their proximity to the site, however after understanding the full project scope, it was clear that a significant storage facility would be required during the project,” explained Garnaud Tsika, Commercial Manager at Allelys.

“Therefore, Allelys analysed the options available and were able to recommend an alternative port, Avonmouth, which included the necessary storage facility. Supporting our client with a cost-effective solution that ensured an efficient project delivery,” Tsika said.

The shipments arrived two months apart, with the first containing 38 pieces ranging from 780 kg to 64 te and including components such as superheaters, boiler drums and economisers. The cargo was lifted onto modular trailers via the geared vessel and shunted into the storage area. 160 te capacity cranes were then utilised to lift the cargo into storage. Depending on the weight, both single and tandem lifts were completed using bespoke lifting frames.

Transport to site

The transport to the site of the first shipment of cargo began before the second vessel arrived. This vessel contained 59 pieces of project cargo ranging from 50 kg to 56 te and included components such as buckstay beams and atmospheric blowdown tanks. The same process was repeated to place this second cargo load into storage.

The transport phase of the project required a combination of general haulage and specialist transport.

“With local transport embargoes in place that meant we couldn’t arrive pre 10 am or post 4 pm, along with a tight site delivery schedule, a maximum of two deliveries per day allowed and multiple gates to deliver to, the project planning and management was pivotal to the successful delivery of the cargo,” concluded Tiska.

Allelys provided escorts for the larger moves and arranged for street furniture to be removed where required. In addition, the engineering team also supported the project by completing route surveys and designing transport arrangements.