Terra Marique’s Triumph in Delivering Transformers to Belle-Île-en-Mer

Staffordshire-based shipping company, Robert Wynn and Sons, has accomplished the delivery of two transformers to Le Palais on Belle-Île-en-Mer in partnership with international freight forwarder Daher.

The transformers were loaded onto the specialized heavy-lift barge, the “Terra Marique,” at the Port of Lorient using a roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) technique. After a short tow of 22 nautical miles, the barge reached the historic port at Le Palais. There, it disconnected from its tug, “En Avant 10,” and navigated into the port independently.

This complex operation underwent extensive planning, involving Robert Wynn & Sons’ engineers, the Daher project team, and local authorities. They identified the right tidal window, conducted surveys, and engaged in thorough discussions.

Upon arrival at the port, the Terra Marique positioned itself to offload the cargo onto the quayside, a process completed in under an hour.

The Terra Marique repeated this process after a 24-hour wait, reloading empty self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) trailers for the return trip to the Port of Lorient. These operations were carried out during nighttime hours to minimize community disruption.

Peter Wynn, Managing Director of Robert Wynn & Sons, said: “We are incredibly proud of our team’s dedication and professionalism in successfully delivering these transformers for our client, Daher. 

The location of the offload really showcases the unique capabilities of the ”Terra Marique”. Our vessel and our crew have been very much welcomed by the local community in Le Palais, we were privileged to exchange flags and be presented with a medal by the Mayor on successful completion of this challenging project.”