February -26- Expert support from blue chip names from across the industry was required during a recent shipment of more than 15,000 tonnes of heavy industry equipment through the Port of Jacksonville's Talleyrand Marine Terminal, says JAXPORT terminal di

The equipment, with some individual items weighing as much as 170 tonnes, included a transformer, four reheaters and 36 modules which arrived from Malaysia and Korea on vessels operated by Chipolbrok and Combi Lift.

Once the ships arrived at the Talleyrand Terminal, Global Stevedoring Inc coordinated the activities of various logistics and transportation companies, including Barnhart Crane & Rigging, Progressive Rail Inc and Specialized Rail Transport.

Rick Sharp, VP of Global Stevedoring told HLPFI that four of the items of equipment are destined for a Michigan nuclear power plant, while the large transformer will be used in Lakeland, Florida. The 36 equipment modules will be used for a cooling system in a coal-fired power plant in McDonough, Georgia.

The arrival of the heavy lift project cargoes comes as JAXPORT says that it is still in good shape to ride out the effects of the global recession. In addition, Mr Menefee said that the port is keen to increase its throughput of heavy and over-dimensional cargoes.

"One of our big advantages over other ports on the east coast is our excellent on-dock connections to the networks of three Class I railroads, including Jacksonville-based CSX Transportation (CSXT), Florida East Coast (FEC) and Norfolk Southern (NS)," says Mr Menefee. "Heavy lift items can be unloaded directly from the vessel at the Talleyrand Terminal, where on-dock rail facilities are run by Talleyrand Terminal Railroad, Inc, which provides direct switching for Norfolk Southern and CSX."

Pictured below is the 120 tonne heat recovery steam generator being unloaded from the ship and positioned onto the rail car to ensure correct over-width clearances. The CSXT KLR rail car is purpose-designed to handle the weight or specialised rail car for these heavy lifts.