Yet another remarkable project was the passage operation of the Aras Driller Rig under the 1915 Çanakkale suspension bridge at the Dardanelles Strait. This Turkish bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world with a main span of 1.26 miles. The operation posed a unique challenge as the driller rig had 120-meter-high legs that needed to pass under a bridge with a maximum 70-meter air draft. To accomplish this, the legs of the rig had to be lowered 57 meters underwater to achieve the required air draft before passing under the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, which has a height of approximately 70 meters above water level. BATI Innovative Logistics conducted a thorough study of the Bathymetry Report to analyze water depths and identify any potential obstacles below the bridge. Every step of this extraordinary operation was reviewed multiple times in collaboration with relevant parties and authorities, ensuring compliance
Thunderbolt Global Logistics managed a critical shipment of nine pieces of static cargo from Turkey to Seattle. Due to their size, two pieces required middle-of-the-night delivery.
their fully stowed position and remained raised for the rest of the voyage until arriving at the proposed Bozcaada anchorage in a northeastern part of the Aegean Sea. There, the rig was oated onto the Seaway Eagle , a heavy lift vessel. For all these project logistics challenges, it was Mission: Possible. n
with safety regulations, Marine Warranty Surveyor guidelines, and rig movement and towing procedures. Prior to approaching the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, the legs of the rig were lowered 57 meters underwater to meet the required air draft. Once the Aras Driller Rig successfully passed under the bridge, the legs were raised to
3 TIPS FOR PROJECT LOGISTICS SUCCESS
1. Prepare for the unexpected. If there’s one thing SeaLand Shipping & Inland Services learned while handling sensitive oil and gas manifold equipment ultimately bound for the United States, it’s best to be overprepared than underprepared.
specific operation involved in shipping cable reels,” says Ardit Myhidi, Project and Chartering Manager at BATI. As a result, the company has made the decision to shift future shipments to a di¨erent port which is better outfitted to handle such operations. 3. Research options. For BATI, the experience highlights the importance of thoroughly assessing and selecting appropriate ports based on their capabilities and suitability for handling specific types of cargo. It’s a valuable lesson since BATI is actively working on increasing the volume of cable reel shipments. Market research indicates a high demand for energy transmission in 2024. “It will require significant infrastructure investment,” says Myhidi.
“One major lesson for our team is to source a self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) in the future due to the nature of such cargo and to enhance safety surrounding the project,” says
SeaLand Managing Director Richard Gaisie. SPMTs are especially useful wherever there’s no access for a crane or truck. 2. Be flexible. Cable reels are one of the BATI Group of Shipping Companies’ preferred cargoes. The challenge they faced in January 2023 conducting handling processes for cable reels arriving at the Port of Haydarpaşa in Istanbul followed by a shift process to a warehouse underlined a problem.
Recognizing this potential, BATI Innovative Logistics aims to capitalize on the increasing demand for cable reel shipments and further expand their operations in this area.
“Logistics personnel recognized the chosen port wasn’t adequately equipped to handle the
134 Inbound Logistics • July 2023
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