deugro has finalized the delivery of critical components for Europe’s most sustainable ethane cracker, transporting a total volume of 85,500 cubic meters to the Port of Antwerp. The milestone marks the completion of a highly complex project involving several oversized and heavy-lift shipments from China, the UAE and Oman.
The first phase included 52,600 cubic meters of cargo from China, featuring ten steel storage bullets weighing up to 738 tonnes and nearly 50 meters long. A further 33,000 cubic meters of OSHL units followed across three charter vessels from the UAE and Oman. These included a 331-tonne marine control building, a 404-tonne local equipment room, multiple substations weighing up to 438 tonnes, and a standout component: a 1,040-tonne, 67-meter-long substation, shipped aboard the Rolldock Storm.
The project demanded precise engineering and logistics coordination, with strict deadlines, a congested loading port requiring a specific berth, and mandatory vessel rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope due to the Red Sea crisis. Most components were loaded RO/RO, requiring advanced SPMT configurations and detailed quay ramp planning. The giant substation alone needed two 50-axle SPMT trains and a 75-meter custom-designed ramp.
Additional last-minute cargo—a 66-meter barge—was secured below deck, requiring dual ballasting and specialized stowage planning.
“Being on the quayside during execution is the real differentiator—allowing rapid solutions to constantly changing conditions,” said Marco Lauwrier, Country Manager Benelux, deugro.
Despite significant technical challenges, deugro’s global engineering team ensured safe and timely delivery. “Close collaboration with our partners enabled us not only to meet schedule and safety requirements but also to optimize vessel capacity, avoiding major dead-freight costs,” added Ben Cunnington, Country Manager, deugro UK.
