xXtras: oversize load requires just that little bit extra
In many cases, containerisation is an easy transport option. But what about massive cranes or reactor pressure vessels that will simply not fit in a box? xXtras from Rotterdam has the specialist knowledge to transport oversize loads to destinations all over the world.
Just recently, the Waalhaven-based company shipped the 1400-tonne crew quarters for a drilling rig to South Korea. A challenging task, both logistically and in terms of engineering: it takes quite some calculating to keep a 50-metre long and 35-metre high object stable aboard a moving ship. Not every shipping line has the know-how and expertise to engineer these kinds of complex transports.
“As a logistics mediator, you need to be aware of this and have the appropriate network to successfully complete the project. But you must also know when, where and how to deploy the right people in order to be a reliable and fully-fledged partner in heavy transport,” says Nina Roewas, the driving force behind xXtras.
Her company has only been operational for two years, but Roewas has already been arranging the worldwide transport of oversize cargo for twenty years. She has worked as a shipbroker, freight broker and competitive broker, but her main passion has always remained the organisation of complex logistics operations – like the ones she organised for many years at heavy transport company Mammoet. These usually start at the factory and end at the foundation, with locations en route which are not always geared to special cargo. “What we do entails more than shuffling around boxes,” says Roewas. “There is no such thing as a standard heavy cargo transport.”
When transporting oversize cargo, awareness of potential bottlenecks and knowing which ships and other modes of transport are suitable and necessary are important.
Can a regular ship be used for the follow-up transport or do the dimensions of the cargo mean it has to be carried on the tanktop of a ship allowed to sail with open hatches? This solution recently proved ideal when shipping a 33-metre high pipelay ramp of Huisman Equipment BV to Scandinavia.
xXtras does not merely put the cargo aboard the ship, but also arranges the transport from A to Z; so transport documents, insurance and in-depth contract negotiations with shipping lines, terminals and authorities. Highly experienced with logistical tours de force, Roewas can quickly assess what it takes to get the job done. The partnership with Re-move BV, global capacity provider for heavy-lift and transport equipment, offers direct access to a network of shore-based crane and transport companies across the globe.
Partially due to an extensive network in the shipping industry and solid experience, xXtras is able to quickly provide a reliable cost estimate. Correctly anticipating the challenges encountered en route is important, because no one wants to be confronted with various unexpected costs halfway through an operation. Roewas: “Then, the old adage ‘better penny wise than pound foolish’ becomes relevant.”
This article was published in magazine: In the spotlight breakbulk
morenews
Project Cargo Summit 2024 programme takes shape
Excitement is building for the Project Cargo Summit 2024 in Bilbao, Spain! The dates are locked in (September 17th and 18th), the speaker list is filling up fast, and preparations are underway to make the “Project Cargo Summit 2024: Mega Cargo, Mega Solutions” an unforgettable event.
Project Cargo Summit goes to Bilbao
Following the successful outing in Bremen in 2023, ProMedia and its Project Cargo Summit team have turned their sights to a new adventure and have partnered with the Port of Bilbao. So for the 2024 edition of the Project Cargo Summit, project cargo, breakbulk and heavy lift industry specialists will gather in Bilbao for two… Read more ›
Project Cargo Summit 2024 registrations open
The time has come, we have opened registrations for this year’s edition of the Project Cargo Summit. As it was previously unveiled, the Port of Bilbao will be our host on September 17 and 18. There have been some changes since the announcement.