For Almajdouie Group, moving super-heavy cargo is no big deal. They have done it so many times they are acknowledged experts in the game.

That does not mean though that the Almajdouie folk can take a contract like that casually. There is a great deal of planning, coordination with police and other government authorities and a host of cautionary measures that have to be taken to ensure the outsize consignment is safely conducted to its ultimate destination.

The group is currently engaged in one such contract that Daelim Corporation awarded it recently.

It has to receive six loop reactors from vessels arriving at Jubail Industrial Port, have them custom cleared and then delivered to the plant site at National Chevron Phillips (NCP), a good 20 km away. Each weighs 293,700 kg, has a length of 68 m, height of 7.2 m and width of 6.30 m.

Already four of the loop reactors have been safely delivered to NCP. With each successful trip, Daelim has patted Almajdouie on the back. By the end of March or early April, the entire consignment will have been delivered.

A closer view of the loop reactor

A loop reactor is an apparatus wherein polymerisation material is circulated continuously within a single-coiled, multi-coiled or spiral structure that has at least one inlet and outlet and at least one reaction zone.

Dedication

Almajdouie’s dedication to doing a job perfectly has brought it contracts time and again. “Our prime aim in getting business is to deliver our services with commitment and efficiency, satisfying our clients’ needs with the utmost care. Our creative team makes sure every corner we take is accomplished safely, securely and on time,” says group vice president SI Mustafa.

He provided details of the Daelim job.  His team conducted a detailed study to determine how best the outsized cargo could be transported. “We had to keep in mind that no matter what safe and secure solution we were implementing it had to be in conformity with governmental rules and regulations.

The consignment is on its way to the NCP site

“The team undertook a few initial exercises – reviewing ship drawings, route surveys and the trailer configuration appropriate for the particular kind of cargo that was to be moved.

“Once plans were in line, permission was obtained from the Ministry of Communications and the police department to avoid any unwanted bureaucratic hitches that might arise.”

Jubail is a major industrial city custom-built over the last decade or so to serve as a site for major primary and secondary industries including steel mills, refineries and petrochemical complexes. The city also happens to me a major seaport and naval base. As well as factories, there are major utilities installations and Jubail Industrial Port is a major gateway for project cargoes.

Open sky terminal 

“On placing each of the loop reactors on Almajdouie trailers, we moved to our open sky terminal near the port for a ‘dress up,’ a term we use for insulation. This is done to protect cargo and improve thermal efficiency,” Mustafa went on.

“The main difficulty along the 20 km route was the Expressway TS1 where traffic is dense. Without police assistance, we might add, it is well-nigh impossible to cross. Additionally, the cargo was so huge that in a few areas we needed the assistance of Al-Khodary Company, which specialises in removing traffic lights at several points and re-fixing them immediately.

“We delivered our first load successfully on February 4 and subsequently three more and have only two remaining.

“The client has commended us for work well done. At the end of it, it will be one more shiny star on our lapel.”