Wilhelmsen Ships Service Completes Project Cargo Management Contract in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Wilhelmsen Ships Service undertook a significant project in Saudi Arabia when the company moved equipment and parts totaling some 32,000 tons over difficult road networks destined for the construction site of the new Al Safwa cement plant. The contract was awarded by one of the world’s largest cement producers and was handled by Wilhelmsen Ships Services Jeddah office. A complex operation involved road transportation of 160 km from Jeddah and 260 km from Yanbu. The Wilhelmsen Ships Service team, headed by Johan Ostnes, carried out a road survey prior to moving the cargo, ascertaining that the road was in good condition to take the weight of the heavy lifts. With the help of Saudi Arabia’s Department of Transport, modifications were made at two junctions for the heavy lifts to be able to pass. The last 10 km which were dirt road, which made for a challenging adventure. Wilhelmsen Ships Service was also faced with resolving a number of logistical challenges regarding local regulations and communication. Wilhelmsen Insurance Services provided insurance for the total transport. The cargo - some tens of thousands of individual items - ranged from heavy lift items, some weighting up to 180 tons, to nuts and bolts, and was in total worth some $600 million US. The transportation was carried out over a period of 18 months and was recently completed. The Cement Plant has commenced its initial test run and is expected to start production September 2010. The plant will produce around 2 million tons of cement per annum for local use as well as for export. www.wilhelmsen.com