UNIKAI Gets Breakbulk Moving
RoRo vessels do not transport vehicles alone. Breakbulk cargo forms an important part of their loads, and HHLA subsidiary UNIKAI specialises in handling this cargo.
By Christian Lorenz
The ‘ACL Atlantic Sky’ speeds along the Elbe towards the Hansa Harbor. It has to make the best of high water levels, because ships with a large draught cannot pass over the Old Elbe Tunnel at low water. The ConRo vessel transports 1,307 CEU (car equivalent units). But with its capacity of 3,817 TEU (20-foot standard containers), it also belongs to the Panamax class – vessels built to the maximum size permitted for transit through the Panama Canal.
Measuring 296 metres in length, the blue freighter with the white logo of the ACL shipping company (Grimaldi Group) moors at the O’Swaldkai quay and begins to lower its RoRo ramp. As soon as it is firmly anchored in the designated area of the quay wall, 179
rolling units are pushed and pulled over the ramp.
UNIKAI, an HHLA subsidiary, operates the multipurpose terminal at the Port of Hamburg, which clears more than just rolling cargo. A container gantry crane at the quayside has already started to load and unload almost 300 containers.
The ramp is now positioned firmly, but still needs to be gritted. Hamburg has seen more snow than at any time in the last 15 years – but that’s no problem for the experienced UNIKAI team: the drivers are already queuing. UNIKAI Operations Manager Dennis Dose explains what this means: ‘We had enough time to move trailers to an area close to the ship. This shortens the routes and speeds up the loading process.’
Products that are too large for containers can also be loaded onto RoRo vessels.
© Christian Lorenz
Almost a third of the rolling cargo consists of roll trailers on which large machinery, crates and other breakbulk loads have already been professionally secured. There are 250 packages with a total weight of around 1,500 tonnes. They are exported – to Canada and the USA. Imports only account for a small proportion of heavy goods at O’Swaldkai.
There are many vehicle and mechanical engineering companies in Germany and Europe whose products are highly coveted worldwide. The global RoRo shipping network deals with products that are too large for containers. They may be huge harvesting or construction machines, drying drums for asphalt production or even complete production plants, packed in seaworthy wooden crates. But UNIKAI’s services encompass more than just loading vehicles and packages onto one of the many RoRo ships. Some of the colli are already delivered in seaworthy packaging – including sturdy wooden crates. But lifting the crates onto a trailer and lashing them there ready for maritime transport is managed by specialised teams at UNIKAI. Reach stacker and heavy forklift truck operators lift the freight onto trailers, which are then pulled on board by tractor units. All packages are first carefully lashed and wedged together in a hall and fitted with edge protectors and protective film. Stacks of packaging timber are distributed around the hall. The employees cut it to size to prevent damaging the machinery and to optimise fastening of the lashing straps. Crates of purple lashing belts from Grimaldi are handed out as the foreman instructs his team.
Mit dem Reachstacker wird der Trockner aus Edelstahl vom Lkw-Trailer gehoben.
© Christian Lorenz
Each lashing strap secures 10 tonnes. Six of these straps are attached to the massive eyelets on the long sides of the trailer, so the total capacity is up to 60 tonnes. Although the stainless steel dryer only weighs 27 tonnes, safety always comes first when it comes to lashing.
Seaworthy lashed and secured to the deck: the wooden crates in the cargo hold of the ‘ACL Atlantic Sky’.
© Christian Lorenz
By now it is dark outside. Vehicles and trailers are parked on several levels in the belly of the ship, in the exact positions specified in the stowage plan. UNIKAI employees are still tightening the fastenings that will hold everything securely in place, even in stormy weather. The ship manages to cast off on time before midnight. It took the UNIKAI crew just one shift to get everything loaded.
‘Our aim is to always do things a little faster’, says Dennis Dose. ‘We want to wow customers with our quality.’
Whether you have general enquiries, specific information about our services or individual requests - our team will be happy to help you.