October 6 - The Port of Longview claims to be the first port in the USA to have discharged wind turbine blades directly from a vessel onto rail cars.

The port used its two Liebherr mobile harbour cranes in tandem to discharge the 160 ft (48 m) blades from the Saga Welco general cargo ship, Saga Frigg, onto flatbed railcars.

Each blade required two railcars and was secured to the cars by members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).

The blades, which were manufactured by Vestas, were destined for a wind farm in Illinois.

"Strategic investments in both equipment and rail, combined with an experienced labour force, have made the Port of Longview a leader in breakbulk cargo handling," said the port's business development manager, Laurie Nelson-Cooley.

 

 

www.portoflongview.com

www.sagawelco.com

www.vestas.com