January 23 - Abnormal Load Services (International) Limited (ALS') project team in Hull, UK organised the first export charter shipment of a demolition machine to New Zealand to assist in clear-up efforts following last year's earthquake.

ALS' client, UK demolition company Coleman & Company , shipped the USD2 million Liebherr UHR telescopic demolition machine R984C featuring a 24 m long, almost 5 m high, weighing 62 tonnes Kocurek telescopic demolition arm with attachments to Christchurch, New Zealand. The movement from Hull to Lyttleton Port, Christchurch took around six weeks.

To assess the potential shipping configurations and lashing and securing requirements ALS carried out a pre-shipment survey of the machine during its final UK operation. The R984C Liebherr machine was broken down into eight sections.

On leaving the UK, the vessel's route took in ports in Florida and subsequent passage through the Panama Canal to Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Upon arrival in New Zealand, the demolition machine will be used to assist the clean-up operation in Christchurch following its earthquake in 2011.

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