Heavy lifting and rigging specialists Lovemore Bros successfully concluded a substantial materials handling, stowage and delivery project of 73 parts weighing 307.1 t for a client based in Witbank, Mpumalanga.

The project, which started in the second week of May, was finished when the last item was delivered to the Richards Bay Port on August 8.

The project entailed the stowing of about 24 containers at its outdoor area as well as about 49 breakbulk loads in its indoor warehouse facility, after it had been transported by Lovemore Bros from Pretoria to its facility in Richards Bay.

The containers and breakbulk loads formed part of the sale of a complete gas plant which was dismantled and was shipped to Egypt where it will be re-erected.

Once assembled, the gas plant will deliver 330 t/d of low-pressure oxygen, combined with a large amount of liquid oxygen co-product.

“Our unique warehouse was designed for projects exactly like this, and our own equipment was used throughout the move and stowage process,” says Lovemore Bros logistics specialist Nicoll Joubert.

She explains that the warehouse offers a 12-m-high roof, fitted with a 25 t gantry crane for heavy lifting, as well as a notably large door measuring 7 m in height.

The 850 m2 under roof area also houses equipment needed on-site to handle cargo which can reach up to 400 t.

“Additional equipment such as the 45 t reach super-stacker makes light work out of any complex machinery handling requirements and was used on the containers we stored for the client,” she says.

The containers were strategically stacked on Lovemore Bros’ 8 500 m2 outdoor space, which allowed for ease of access when moving and delivering the containers to the port.

She points out that the largest part of the gas plant measured over 17.5 m long and weighed 23 t, with the largest breakbulk storage crate weighing 30.1 t.

Joubert enthuses that the Lovemore Bros Richards Bay branch, which is situated in the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ), is positioned about 500 m from the Richards Bay port ‘East Gate’.

“The ease of access makes Lovemore Bros a prime choice for client's seeking to stow products prior to shipping or before moving imported products up into South Africa,” she says, adding that this is the third project of this magnitude the company has undertaken in the last six months.

Additional advantages of being located in the RBIDZ, include added security and a direct route to and from the port.

Transport Trials

Joubert says besides the lack of adequate road, rail and harbour infrastructure in and around the Richards Bay port, challenges such as the actual complexity of moving large objects posed a quandary.

Apart from the fact that municipal escorts had to be arranged, and a keen eye had to be kept on the weather, specialised machinery and lifting rigs had to be assigned to the project.

“We mitigated this challenge by using our own rigs and materials handling and lifting equipment on the project, cementing our capabilities with this client and any other client's that look at our project portfolio,” she says.

She says Lovemore Bros’ mechanical projects division, as well as its logistics department offer full turnkey solutions for project-related cargo such as dismantled plants, heavy and abnormal equipment as well as standard break bulk cargo such as steel frames and tubes.

Joubert concludes that a storage or stowage facility is only as good as its equipment, lifting facilities and experienced staff contingent.