Multimodal Transport of LNG Tanks and Ship Engines
Eastship Projects & Logistics coordinated a complex project cargo and multimodal transport operation involving the maritime discharge, direct vessel-to-barge transshipment, inland waterway transportation, and final Ro/Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off) discharge of four oversized industrial units.
With a total combined weight of nearly 1,000 tonnes, this Out-of-Gauge (OOG) shipment required an engineered logistics plan. By combining direct heavy-lift crane transshipment with specialized Ro/Ro handling, the operation delivered a seamless transit from the Port of Constanța along the Danube inland waterway network to the delivery site in Tulcea.
Cargo Profile
Handling oversized project cargo requires meticulous dimensional and weight engineering. The shipment comprised four major industrial components totaling approximately 990 tonnes:
2 x Oversized LNG Storage Tanks
Representing the primary volumetric and height challenge of the convoy, these units dictated barge deck arrangement and ramp configurations:
Length: ~32 m (each)
Width: ~13 m
Height: ~13 m
Unit Weight: ~310 tonnes (each)
2 x Heavy Industrial Engines
Requiring dedicated rigging configurations and high-capacity lifting gear:
Engine 1: ~11.3 m (L) × ~5.1 m (W) × ~6.1 m (H) | Weight: ~205 t
Engine 2: ~11.7 m (L) × ~3.9 m (W) × ~6.4 m (H) | Weight: ~165 t
Operational Strategy & Handling Methodology
Rather than utilizing a uniform discharge method, Eastship deployed a hybrid handling solution tailored to the distinct center-of-gravity and dimensional envelope of each cargo type:
Direct Vessel-to-Barge Transshipment (Engines): The two engines were lifted directly from the ocean vessel's hold onto the receiving river barge. This required precise station-keeping between vessel and barge, synchronized heavy-lift rigging, and immediate deck seafastening (dunnage, welding, and lashing).
Ro/Ro Handling (LNG Tanks): Due to the extreme height and width (approaching 13 meters each), crane-lifting the tanks was bypassed in favor of a roll-on/roll-off (Ro/Ro) maneuver. Using specialized multi-axle modular trailers, the ~310-tonne tanks were rolled directly onto the barge deck over load-rated ramps, supported by active ballast management.
Execution
01 — Vessel Discharge | Port of Constanța
Operations began at the Port of Constanța berth upon the arrival of the heavy-lift vessel. Eastship engineers coordinated the interface between port stevedores, ship cranes, and the moored river barge.
02 — Direct Engine Transshipment
The heavy industrial engines (~205 t and ~165 t) were hoisted directly from the vessel hold and placed onto engineered load-spreading timbers on the barge deck to maintain transversal and longitudinal stability.
03 — Ro/Ro Loading of LNG Tanks
Following the placement of the engines, the two ~32-meter LNG tanks were transferred via Ro/Ro operations. The move required continuous tidal monitoring and ballast adjustments to maintain equal deck elevation between the quay and the barge.
04 — Inland Waterway Transit | Constanța → Tulcea
Once seafastening calculations were verified and all units secured, the barge convoy navigated inland waterways toward Tulcea. Utilizing river transport bypassed major road infrastructure bottlenecks, avoiding overhead bridge clearance limits, roundabouts, and axle-load constraints on public highways.
05 — Final Discharge & Quayside Delivery | Tulcea
At the destination berth in Tulcea, the discharge mirrored the loading sequence through dual handling methods:
Ro/Ro Roll-Off: The two LNG tanks were rolled off the barge deck to the staging area.
Crane Offloading: Heavy-lift shore cranes discharged both industrial engines directly to the designated receiving pads.
Multimodal Engineering Expertise
Managing heavy lift logistics of this scale requires integrating distinct operational disciplines into a unified supply chain. By combining direct vessel-to-barge lifting, Ro/Ro operations, and inland waterway transit, Eastship Projects & Logistics executed a tailored transport configuration adapted to the exceptional height, width, and mass of critical energy infrastructure.
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