Samoco, a part of Sarens, was tasked recently with the transport of a one of a kind barge from Jordaenskaai to Droogdokkensite.

The Céphée barge, built in 1937 in France, was bought by the Friends of the National Maritime Museum in 1984 from the Antwerp Rhine and Inland Navigation Museum and donated to Antwerp city. Upon closure of the National Maritime Museum this one of a kind barge had to be moved to the Dry Docks, where it will feature at a maritime experience site.

Two-phase project

The project was conducted in two phases with the first part including engineering, construction, and installation of a supporting steel frame around the barge and a wooden frame inside the barge.

The second part was engineering and jacking with SCJ50, transport with 12 axle-lines of K25 SPMT, jacking at the new location and moving the barge into a new building with wheelsets at the Droogdokken site, a few kilometres further.

For the first phase the steel and wooden frames were ordered, assembled, and installed around the barge by mid-February. The barge measured 40m x 5,8m x 4m and weighed 90 ton including 40 ton steel structure around it.

The second phase began with the jacking of the barge to install the SPMTs underneath. Before transporting the barge, Samoco’s team had to dismantle a concrete wall, remove the protected fencing, manage street furniture and many different preparatory works before completing the transport.

With everything meticulously planned the barge was moved to its final destination by the SPMTs during the night. The barge was then positioned in front of the building and lowered on the jacking system. The SPMTs were removed and the barge was lowered on to our wheelsets. Next the barge was pushed inside the building and lowered on to the concrete ground floor.