Transporting storage tank from Bressay to Greenock for Pelagia

Client Overview

Client: Pelagia
Industry: Aquaculture
Location: Bressay, Shetland
Project Date: 20/11/2024

The Challenge:

Pelagia required a large tank to be relocated from their site in Bressay, Shetland, to another site in Greenock on the Scottish mainland. This project presented a range of logistical and technical challenges due to the size of the tank and the complexity of the journey.

The tank’s dimensions posed particular difficulties: once loaded onto the trailer, it reached a height of 4.9m and a width of 4.1m. With a height restriction of 5m for ferry travel and bridge clearance, careful route planning was essential. Additionally, navigating narrow streets near the Greenock site needed to be accounted for.

Why LTS Shetland?

Pelagia chose LTS Shetland because of our comprehensive, end-to-end service. We provided all necessary components for the project, including:

• Lift plans and Risk Assessments (RAMS)
• Movement orders
• Escort vehicles
• Crane, plant hire, and haulage
• Coordination of truck and ferry arrangements

This “one-stop-shop” approach ensured efficient planning and execution, minimizing disruptions for the client.

Additional Challenges

Unpredictable weather conditions caused significant delays. High winds disrupted ferry schedules, delaying the arrival of the ferry in Shetland and subsequently in Aberdeen. This meant that the original transport date of November 21st had to be rescheduled. We quickly adapted to these changes, submitting an amended movement order to the police and rescheduling the transport to November 22nd.

Furthermore, the oversized load could only travel on public roads between 09:30 and 15:30, requiring precise timing and coordination to meet these restrictions.

LTS Shetland’s Solution

Services Provided:

• Appointed Person: Designed the lift and prepared lift plans and RAMS.
• Crane Supervisor: Oversaw all lifting operations.
• Crane: Lifted the tank onto the transport vehicle.
• Haulage: Transported the tank from Bressay to Greenock.
• Escort Vehicles: Ensured safe passage of the oversized load from the site to the ferry and onward to Greenock.

Techniques & Expertise:

• Use of specialized machinery, including a Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP), crane, and plant trailer.
• Coordination by experienced professionals, including an appointed person and a lift supervisor.

Implementation Steps:

1. Conducted a detailed site visit to measure the tank and discuss options with the client.
2. Prepared detailed lift plans and RAMS to ensure compliance with safety standards.
3. Arranged all travel and ferry bookings.
4. Organized escort vehicles and secured wide load movement orders.
5. Provided the necessary crane, haulage, plant, and personnel to execute the project.

Results

Despite the weather-related delays and the complexities of moving an oversized load across multiple transportation modes, the project was completed successfully and with minimal disruption. The tank arrived safely at the Greenock site, demonstrating LTS Shetland’s ability to adapt to challenges and deliver high-quality service.

Conclusion

This project highlights LTS Shetland’s expertise in handling complex logistics for the aquaculture industry. Our ability to provide a complete package of services, from planning to execution, ensured a seamless process for Pelagia. No matter the challenges, we are committed to delivering efficient, safe, and reliable solutions for our clients.

Ready to work with us? Get in touch.