The spectacular transport of two massive locomotives from France to Thailand
Transporting large and heavy cargo across the world requires careful planning and execution. It is a complex process that involves various stages and requires expertise in different areas, from logistics and engineering to negotiation and communication. Sealogis Freight Forwarding Belgium has demonstrated, as a renowned transport architect, its ability to manage such challenges successfully.
Recently, the company was tasked with transporting two locomotives from France to Thailand. The size of the two locomotives was nothing short of spectacular, with the first measuring 18 meters in length and 3.80 meters in height, while the second was 23 meters long and 4.17 meters high.
Sealogis Belgium’s main role was to act as a transport architect, ensuring the hassle-free execution of every stage of the transportation process.
From initial planning to successful execution
As the transport architect of this project, Sealogis Belgium was responsible for designing the entire transport plan from the factory in France to the final destination in Thailand. The company had to consider various factors such as the dimensions and weight of the locomotives, the fragility of certain parts, the availability of suitable transport trailers, and the routes that were suitable for such large cargo.
"As a transport architect, our role is to ensure the hassle-free execution of every stage of the transportation process. We take into account all the technical aspects, negotiate the best deals, and oversee the execution of the project to ensure that everything is done according to plan."
(Edwig Laenen, CEO of Sealogis Freight Forwarding Belgium)
Sealogis Belgium had to work closely with the client to understand their requirements and expectations and provide them with a viable solution that would meet their needs.
To achieve this, Sealogis Belgium held several meetings with the client and the transport carrier to discuss the technical aspects of the project. They identified the best routes to take, considering the width of the roads and the bridges that the locomotives would have to cross. In France, several roads were temporarily closed to ensure the safe transport of these massive locomotives.
In addition to the technical aspects, they also negotiated with the shipping company to secure the best price for the transport of the locomotives. They were also responsible for the execution of the project, ensuring that everything was done according to plan and that any issues that arose were resolved promptly.
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Via the port of Antwerp to Thailand
The first locomotive was loaded onto an exceptional transport vehicle in the factory near Tours, France, and transported to the port of Antwerp via the highways. This locomotive was then loaded onto a MAFI transport trailer at the Antwerp dock. The second locomotive was transported to Valenciennes, France, for transhipment by lighter before arriving in Antwerp.
Once the locomotives were loaded onto the transport trailer, Sealogis Belgium oversaw the securing and lashing of the cargo. They ensured that the locomotives were adequately protected from any damage during transport. Sealogis Belgium also managed the paperwork and customs clearance procedures necessary for the shipment to leave the port of Antwerp.
Finally, the transport trailer carrying the locomotives was shipped to Thailand, where Sealogis Belgium’s local partner coordinated the last mile to the final cusotmer. The entire transport took several weeks, and the company was present at every stage to ensure that everything went smoothly.
Sealogis Belgium’s expertise
Transporting large and heavy cargo across the world requires careful planning and execution. Sealogis Belgium demonstrated its expertise in managing such challenges successfully. As the transport architect of this project, they designed the entire transport plan, from the factory in France to the final destination in Thailand.
