Project cargo challenges can range from moving entire mines to a 300-kilogram live manta ray nearly halfway round the world.Carl Webb of Project Logistics Management (PLM) says the company was contracted by a forwarder to assist in the relocation of a manta ray from Ushaka Marine World in Durban to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. Named after Shaka’s mother Nandi, the manta ray was rescued after being entangled and injured in a shark net.When Nandi started outgrowing her tank it was decided to relocate her to Georgia, which has a 24-million-litre Ocean Voyager exhibit. A 6m x 2.5m x 2.5m tank was positioned at the aquarium and the water prepared for the f light. Catching the ray, which has a three-metre wingspan, was the first challenge. The vehicle with the tank was parked some way off due to the aquarium pedestrian bridges not being able to bear the weight. Nandi’s handler tried to attract the ray to a shelf in her tank where divers were ready with a net, but she would not come in as she had during the practice runs. “This became a problem as the ray was getting nervous and time was a factor,” he says. “We then realised that the difference between the practice runs and the capture was that we were wearing ref lective vests. “Once we removed them, she entered the shelf area without any problem.” The net was lifted, and she was then secured in a cradle, blood samples were taken, and the cradle was lifted out of the water. The cradle, with 300 kilograms of manta on board, had to be carried to the vehicle by eight people. It was then lifted into the relocation tank to release the ray. Divers stayed with the tank for the journey to the airport, with the vehicle under metro police escort to ensure there were no stops en route. At the airport, the tank was transferred onto a Boeing 747 freighter which had been chartered by Atlanta Aquarium. Nandi was accompanied by several scientists who checked her vital signs and adjusted the water PH levels on the f light. On arrival in Atlanta the tank was once again transported.
