World record 7,500 tonne base move on SPMT

Making the transfer onto the barge. Photo: TII Scheuerle

A new world record move was completed in China using self propelled modular transporter (SPMT).

The job was to transport the giant hollow steel foundation for the Three Gorges Corporation’s Navigator 16 MW wind turbine. Contractor Vastwin Engineering Logistics made the historic move at the vast Blueocean Wind offshore engineering yard in Guangxi.

Keeping a close eye on the central SPMT modules and PPUs. Photo: TII Scheuerle

Vastwin used 244 axle lines of Scheuerle SPMT with 13 power pack units (PPU) to move the 7,500 tonne fabricated steel structure. Underneath the points where there was the greatest load Vastwin placed 92 axle lines of the higher capacity, 60 tonnes per line, SPMT.

In addition to its vast weight, the dimensions were also huge. It was 80.82 metres long and 91 metres wide. Vastwin used the SPMT to make a controlled transfer from the quayside onto a transport barge prior to sailing out to the offshore site.

Construction of the foundation started on 8 April and was completed in a record time of 5 months. Blueocean has a workforce of more than 8,000 and has the capacity to fabricate 1.5 million tonnes of steel a year.

All 7,500 tonnes makes its way off the quay, Photo: Blueocean