The load-out project of a floating dock in South Korea is an absolute XXL-experience. After a detailed preparation work, the 260-meter-giant with a weight of 18,000 tons begins his journey, the final destination of which is Egypt.
The place of action and the starting point of the extraordinary spectacle is the SangSangIn Ship Machinery in GwangYang port. The task is to move the floating dock about 300 meters out of the installation location and load it on to a barge ship. Besides the impressive length and weight of the freight, the steel colossus has a width of 62 meters and a height about 22.5 meters.
380 modular axle lines of Cometto MSPE
As a contractor, the competence of the three well-known South Korean heavy load specialists Anjeon, DaeMyung and Global comes together. “The three companies have sent their SPMT fleets to the site to master the challenge. A total of 380 modular axle lines of Cometto MSPE has been assembled, composed by sixty-two 6-axle units two 4-axle units”, explains Alberto Di Stefano, Sales Manager at Cometto, the framework conditions of this high-level job.
The complete system was driven by 12 Power Pack Units with 335 kW each. “The high payload capacity and the reliable handling of the Cometto modules are decisive advantages for this outstanding job”, says Alberto Di Stefano about the feedback from the executing partners. “Such projects are realisable thanks to the payload capacity of the Cometto MSPE which reaches a value of up to 70 tons per axle line – the highest amount on the market. Additionally, the patented Cometto Dual-Link suspension offers an optimized force repartition in the suspension structure. The axle geometry gives the highest possible precision during the load positioning“.
All the 380 SPMT axle lines have been disposed in twelve independent convoys supporting four areas under each corner of the floating dock and worked together in an open compound. The convoy connection between the Cometto SPMTs was kicked off as soon as the Cometto engineers accompanied by experts from Bokook – the Cometto partner in South Korea - arrived at the port job site.
The final destination is Egypt
The Cometto SPMTs in convoy was all set quickly to kick off the load-out process. First the position of the supports had to be adjusted a little, then the load-out project was successfully completed. The general relief was great when the part was safely placed on the barge.
The huge floating dock is capable to lift up to 35,000 tons. SangSangIn Ship Machinery signed a contract with Suez Canal Authority of Egypt in November 2021 to build this floating dock worth about 90 billion South Korean won, approx. 64 Million Euros. The Koreans started manufacturing the floating dock in May 2022 and less than a year later, the finished item is ready to do the first missions.