Airline breaks record to rescue ship

 

How heavy is too heavy? for one airline it seems the sky’s the limit, after their freight division came to the rescue of a ship in need of a 36 tonne rudder part in Dubai last week.

Emirates Airline’s SkyCargo service transported the 9.16 metres long and 1.05 metres wide rudder stock to a ship in the Dubai Dry Docks that was in urgent need of repairs.

The part – tailor-made by Korean steel manufacturer Taewoong – would normally be transported by sea, but a quick solution was required to reduce the cost of the ship being out of service.

In conjunction with Dubai-based charter broker Air Charter International, it was transported on an Emirates freighter – a Boeing 747-400F – from Seoul to Dubai and tested ground-handling operations at both airports to the fullest.

“Transporting a piece of cargo this heavy requires the highest degree of care and special handling,” said Hiran Perera, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Cargo Planning & Freighters. “Two cranes – capable of lifting 50 tonnes each – along with two high loaders were required, while more than 30 workers in both Seoul and Dubai made sure the intricate loading operation went smoothly.

“Precision planning and the combined expertise of everyone involved at Emirates SkyCargo, dnata, Air Charter International and Atlas Air was crucial to this success of this project,” added Perera. “This is testament to our commitment to meeting even the most challenging customer requirements. We are also committed to facilitating international trade, so it is particularly satisfying that we will have contributed to the vessel’s quick return to service.”

 

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