The cargo contained eight diverter dampers measuring 495 x 470 x 465 centimeters and weighing 15 metric tons each. The units were shipped from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to two thermoelectric plants in Bolivia. deugro’s special transport solution involving the use of a low-bed trailer led to the project being awarded to deugro and to cost savings for the client by avoiding civil works.

The transit of the convoys led from the Port of Arica, Chile through the Chilean desert, mountains, the Bolivian Plateau and jungle, to Warnes and Yacuiba, Bolivia. It involved extreme geographical challenges such as high altitude, snow, rain and severe temperature fluctuations.

“After the trailers arrived from Arica, Chile, they needed to wait for seven days at the Bolivian/Chilean border due to the immense COVID-19 restrictions. The border between Chile and Bolivia was closed, and special permits needed to be requested from the Bolivian/Chilean health authorities,” said Nicolas Reveco, Project coordinator, deugro Chile. “Once we entered Bolivia, we lifted the dampers onto special low-bed equipment before crossing the City of Cochabamba, to avoid civil works. After crossing Cochabamba, the cargo was transferred back to the original equipment.”

dteq Transport Engineering Solutions supported the successful project execution by reviewing the subcontractors’ input and finally approving the lifting plan from dock to vessel at the origin and the destination, the transport drawings, the lashing plan as well as the lifting plan.