Full steam ahead for global project logistics

International teams at a. hartrodt have pooled their expertise to develop an end-to-end transport solution between China and Chile. “Our client is a Chilean energy company that has boilers for industrial steam generation using biomass manufactured in China,” explains Daniel Lucero, Senior Sales Representative at a. hartrodt Chile. The distance between the metalworks in Henan Province and destinations in southern Chile is approximately 20,000 kilometers as the crow flies, and the distance was even longer by sea. “For breakbulk projects of this scale, each link in the chain must be seamlessly connected,” emphasizes Connie Cui, Sales Manager at a. hartrodt Qingdao Logistics.

Fourth boiler load arrives at the Pacific port of Valparaíso

Since last year, the internationally networked team has successfully shipped three disassembled boilers from China to various steam system projects in southern Chile and, most recently, a fourth unit arrived last week at the Pacific port of Valparaíso. At the same time, the flat-rack shipments were handled through the Port of San Antonio. According to Daniel Lucero, a. hartrodt Chile loaded for each boiler 200 cubic meters of breakbulk cargo, six 40-foot flat racks and eight high-cube containers for the overland transport of the oversized heavy cargo.

Direct loading in Qingdao from truck to ship 

In China, the shipper itself took charge of the approximately four-day truck transport from the factory to the port of Qingdao having its own transport team. A three-person operations team at a. hartrodt in Qingdao handled the booking, including customs clearance, and maintained contact with the shipping line. “We make sure everything runs smoothly until the shipment is on the ship,” explains Connie Cui. Given the tight schedule, the vehicle-to-vessel direct loading required precise coordination between the terminal, the shipping line, and the transport company: “The cargo was loaded directly into the vessel's lower hold (bottom stowage) and everything was secured on six large pallets.” She praised the well-rehearsed collaboration of everyone involved.

Via the Pacific route, the breakbulk shipments reached Valparaíso within a maximum of 37 days. Upon arrival, the a. hartrodt team in Chile was also responsible for cargo insurance and the onward transport by truck to southern Chile.