Massive logistics project requires 150 police escorts

A joint exercise in transporting a massive “Meccano” set of steelwork from China to the new Sishen south iron mine in South Africa has just been performed by the global logistics company, Conceptum Logistics, and its new local partner, World Cargo Services (WCS), according to WCS director, Colin Atkins. With much of the iron ore to come from the mine being destined for China, he told FTW, it was no surprise that the steelwork supplied by Takraf for the bucket wheel reclaimer and two stacker reclaimers was manufactured in China. “We were contracted to transport this shipment from Shanghai and Tianjin in China via the Port of Saldanha,” Atkins added, “with that port being chosen in preference to Cape Town as substantial road works are affecting the roads leading out of the mother city. “Although Saldanha has no port cranes, the ship’s gear of the PAC Adara was used for discharge – and these massive steel structures were unloaded in just 14 hours on November 7. The timing of the road haul was also critical. “With the December road closures for abnormal vehicles imminent,” Atkins said, “the challenge was to get all cargo, including some 45 abnormal loads, delivered to Postmasburg 1 300-kilometres away before the shut-down period began.” In the end, road traffic officials from both the Western and Northern Cape had to be brought in and over 150 police escorts were eventually used over a 21-day period. It was not all plain sailing, according to Atkins, with the “big” four loads just too big to risk on the Pikenierskloof pass, and a long and winding dirt road the only alternative. But, he added, Kumkani’s new super-abnormal rigs were equal to the task – and the contract was completed without any incidents before the December shutdown.