The US division of Italian heavy-load logistics provider Fagioli claims three world records during the transportation of the ‘Charybdis’ offshore wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) weighing 23,163 tonnes.
Fagioli moved the vessel from the shipyard onto three barges from where it was subsequently launched into the water. In doing so it claims world records for: the largest number of axle lines transporting one single load; the heaviest weight moved by SPMT axle lines; and the heaviest load on wheels transferred onto barges.
To move the wind turbine installation vessel Fagioli utilised 880 Scheuerle SPMT axle lines powered by 28 power pack units. According to Scheuerle, this was the heaviest weight ever transported on land on wheels.
On reaching the river bank the vessel was transferred to three parallel positioned barges also by means of the 880 Scheuerle SPMT axle lines. With a total weight of 26,900 tonnes this also marked a new world record: the heaviest barge load transported on wheels for boarding a ship. The WTIV was subsequently launched into the water.
The ‘Charybdis’ was commissioned by US energy company Dominion Energy and it was built at the Seatrium AmFELS shipyard in Texas. The vessel is, says Scheuerle, the first vessel of its kind to comply with the Jones Act requirements. This regulation stipulates that all transportation between American ports may only be provided by vessels that were built in the States and owned by US citizens who hold an appropriate transportation licence. This also applies to the transport of people and goods to offshore wind turbine facilities.
“The record is proof of our SPMTs´ excellent operational performance and innovative strength of our customers,” said Filippo Baldassari, managing director of TII Group.0 “We at TII Scheuerle are immensely proud of the fact that our products have made such a milestone possible in the heavy-load industry. The new record not only proves the superb performance of our SPMTs but it also impressively demonstrates the tireless innovative strength and determination of our customers. Their successes are also our successes! We look forward to continuing to achieve new heights of performance together and shaping the future of heavy-load logistics."