Wind turbines can have over 8,000 parts, sourced from manufacturers throughout the world. Because wind components are typically oversize and distinctively shaped, it’s important to work with a knowledgeable team that uses the right equipment and techniques.
“Our partners help customers choose the best routes, ships, and carriers. Cargo handling professionals add value to that process by managing key operational details, such as transitioning cargo from one point in the logistics chain to another,” said Shawn McMahon, General Sales Manager – General Cargo, at Logistec. “We are the answer to questions such as, ‘When your goods arrive at the port, how will you transfer them from a truck or railcar to the ship?’ and ‘How do you stow and package your goods so that they don’t shift when the waves get high?’”
Wind energy components are made of carbon fibre and lightweight alloys. They’re prone to damage from being bumped or coming into contact with other pieces of cargo. Dents or scratches could mean the difference between delivering on time – or sending an item back to the factory for costly repairs.
The growing size and weight of the components has been a challenge for the cargo handling industry. In some cases, individual pieces have doubled in size over the past 10 years. Modern wind cargo requires large, flat open space or ‘laydown area’ so that various components can arrive separately (often weeks apart, from different origins), and leave together by rail or in a convoy of specially-designed flatbed trailers.
“When I started, blades were 15 metres long and now they’re up to 50 metres. Nacelles have grown from 30 tonnes to 110 tonnes, and we recently worked with 70-tonne towers,” said Anthony Steele, Operations Manager for Logistec in Halifax. “Even with the right equipment, this type of cargo requires specialised rigging and experienced operations staff. For example, blades are meant to cut through the air, and we need to compensate for that, keep them stable when lifting from inside a ship and across 10-12 metres to rest on a concrete terminal.”
The Maritimes has seen an exciting surge in wind cargo over the past two years. The Port of Halifax has several break-bulk terminals and a variety of equipment to receive heavy wind components, either from overseas by vessel or domestically by rail. In Sheet Harbour, a sister port to Halifax located about 90 minutes away, blades and towers are quickly and efficiently discharged to either the 12-acre laydown area adjacent to the wharf or, because of the site’s convenient highway access, directly to trucks and trailers.
Thunder Bay has been handling wind project cargo since 2001, making it one of the first ports along the Great Lakes to do so. In addition to ample laydown area, the port is serviced by both CN and CP railways, offering the highest module clearance envelopes in Canada. This Ontario port is an effective gateway to move components from the East Coast to Western Canada and mid-continent wind projects. A ship’s cargo can be loaded directly onto a train so that it spends as little time on the road as possible.
In Québec, the Port of Trois-Rivières is accessible year-round and recently acquired a new spreader. Pieces can be delivered in advance, stored on the laydown area, and prepared for loading with appropriate fixtures in advance of a vessel’s arrival. Local trucking partners specializing in heavy transport are involved in bringing cargo to and from the wharf.
“Wind components are worth millions of dollars, and there are many people involved in getting this technology to the global marketplace,” says Shirley Pellerin, Operations Manager for Logistec in Trois-Rivières. “When you hit the home stretch, cargo handling specialists are a part of your team. We work closely with your transportation partners so that shipping runs smoothly while you concentrate on providing renewable energy for years to come.”