Inside MSC's Record-Breaking Heavy-Lift Move

Congratulations to the project team at MSC, who recently smashed their own heavy-lift record after transporting a 390-tonne hydraulic hammer from Rotterdam to Singapore. We caught up with Bob Langerak, project cargo manager at MSC Netherlands, to discover how the company accomplished it.

From Issue 6, 2024 of Breakbulk Magazine.

(4-minute read)


Q: How long did the entire project take, from planning to delivery?

Bob Langerak: There were three key phases: firstly, we needed to check the feasibility of this project! So we needed to check availability and capacity of equipment, then create a quote and ensure that we could meet the customer’s requirements. Then, about a month before the shipping date, the customer confirmed, and it was all systems go. So the project took around 10 weeks in total, including preparation and transit time.

Timing was key. Everything had to be planned with absolute precision, as floating cranes were only available on specific dates at both the port of loading (Rotterdam) and port of discharge (Singapore). As part of this, we visited the customer’s site to measure and take photos of the hammer; offshore cargo often undergoes modifications, so it was crucial to verify everything physically. We then coordinated with the lashing company to confirm all requirements, and we worked closely with MSC’s head office in Geneva, Switzerland, to finalize the operations and transit time.

The final phase was, of course, the journey from Rotterdam to Singapore, which took 35 days. On arrival, the cargo was initially discharged from MSC London onto a pontoon and subsequently loaded onto a semi-submersible crane vessel that was at anchor in Malaysia. It then continued its journey to an offshore windfarm project in the Pacific.


Q: What was the most challenging aspect of coordinating the transport across multiple countries?

BL: The biggest challenge was sticking to the project schedule, despite external factors such as the weather. For example, it’s impossible to load extremely heavy cargo in certain wind conditions, as you can imagine, but also unloading in very hot and humid conditions had its challenges! Considering the different climatic conditions in Singapore, the physical operations were slower. However, we countered this with bigger project teams to ensure everyone’s safety and wellbeing.

With thanks to the stakeholders’ dedication and expertise, as well as seamless communication across thousands of miles, everything went smoothly. It was a joint effort with multiple partners, including the floating crane companies in Rotterdam and Singapore, the lashing crews and surveyors, as well as the ship’s captain and crew. The chief officer had actually collaborated with us on a previous project, so it was fantastic to work together again. His knowledge and experience were invaluable.


Q: Were there any special packaging or handling requirements due to the unit’s weight and dimensions?

BL: Weighing 390 tonnes and measuring over 25 meters, the cargo was much too big to lift using a land-based crane. That’s why we used floating cranes – including the 125-meter high Asian Hercules II – instead. Sometimes known as “crane barges,” these huge, heavy-duty cranes are specially designed to carry massive loads, such as oil drilling equipment. However, they are only available at a small number of ports around the world, so we have to choose our port pairs wisely for these kinds of shipments. By combining floating cranes with our container vessels, we can offer a frequent, fast and cost-effective alternative to geared vessels (ships equipped with their own cranes to load and offload cargo).


Q: What were the key takeaways from this project, and how will they influence MSC’s future heavy-lift operations?

BL: This extraordinary project really showcases MSC’s project cargo expertise and flexibility. It shows that we have the equipment and infrastructure to support customers all over the world with tailored solutions for highly complex shipments. Plus, we can carry the cargo on our weekly services, which simplifies the planning for our customers because they know exactly when their shipment will arrive. So, for me, the top takeaway is that MSC is ready for the future and we’re looking forward to new challenges. In fact, we are scheduled to carry our second 390-tonne piece of cargo, and we’ve already received inquiries about even heavier loads. There’s no stopping us now!


MSC is an exhibitor at Breakbulk Europe.

TOP PHOTO: The unit is unloaded by the project cargo team in Singapore. Credit: MSC
SECOND: Bob Langerak supervises the unloading of the cargo. Credit: MSC