Wallis Hauls 95 tonne Boiler - 19 September 2005

A leading Colchester shipping company has been enlisted to transport one of its heaviest ever loads; a 95 tonne boiler.

Wallis Shipping, based on the Severall’s business park, has been contracted to move the enormous load from docks in Liverpool to a Texaco oil refinery in Pembroke where the equipment will be used for two years. The load is so large, over 5 metres tall, it cannot be transported by road and will have to be moved on a barge pulled by a tug boat.

Measuring 45 ft in length, the load will take three or four days to be towed to its destination and the cargo will also include four or five containers of spare parts and ancillary equipment.

Wallis’ Managing Director, Stuart Gregory, said: “This is one of the most demanding logistical tests we have ever undertaken. Not only is this one of the heaviest single pieces of machinery we have handled, but the job will also involve a number of different partners from those needed to winch the boiler on and off the barge, to the marine surveyor whose job it will be to make sure everything is safe.”

He added: “This is a very complex job that will take a great deal of co ordination and planning to make sure it runs smoothly and safely.”

The boiler will be shipped on an ocean-going vessel from the east cost of America following transport by train from the west coast, where it has previously been used as part of an oil refinery. It will be used at the Texaco refinery in Pembroke for a two year trial period before Wallis is contracted to ship it back to the USA.

Wallis won the contract through a long established relationship with key agency partner in San Francisco.

Wallis Shipping Services Ltd