Mumbai-Based Operator Eyes ‘Substantial’ Opportunities in Green Energy
By Liesl Venter
Goodrich is expanding its project cargo operations and reinforcing its commitment to sustainable solutions, having recently successfully transported a batch of wind turbine components from Shanghai to Hamburg.
According to Prasann Venkataraman, head of business development, the Mumbai-headquartered firm is making significant strides in the green energy transition through the transportation of wind energy equipment that is seeing a growing increase in demand.
For this latest move, the cargo consisted of four wind rotor units, each measuring 8.45 metres in height, 8.1 metres in width and 3.6 metres in depth. Weighing 88 tonnes a piece, the hefty components posed unique challenges during transportation.
One of the main challenges faced by the Goodrich team was identifying the most suitable carrier partner for this time-sensitive shipment. Additionally, the company had to ensure the availability of the right equipment and expertise to handle the delicate task of transporting blades and other accessories.
Venkataraman said the rotor units were safely loaded under the deck and securely fastened on Goodrich's 16 x 40 flatbed containerships through a non-containerised loading operation.
“The demand for wind energy equipment transportation is on the rise, particularly in trade lanes to Europe and exports from China to India,” Venkataraman said, pointing to the company’s position as a logistics partner for the wind and renewable sector.
“Governments worldwide increasingly recognise the significance of wind concessions and setting targets for CO2 emission control. As a result, markets worldwide are seeing substantial growth in renewable energy equipment.”
According to Venkataraman, Goodrich was placing itself at the forefront of meeting this demand, offering its expertise in handling turbine blades and other project cargo requirements. “We strive to find solutions that fit every client’s customary requirements while keeping quality up and costs down,” he said.
In another notable project, Goodrich successfully transported gas turbines from Malaysia to Georgia earlier this year for a refinery upgrade project in Kazakhstan. The turbines weighed 200 tonnes a piece, making the logistics operation challenging.
“Our team had to carefully plan door-to-door pickup, load the cargo onto a breakbulk vessel, transport it into the Black Sea, and ensure timely delivery to the destination.”
One of the significant hurdles encountered during this project was finding contractors and skilled crane operators in the ports to facilitate the loading process. “Moving out of gauge and heavy equipment like this comes down to having the right service providers in place. Using a mobile crane, the team overcame the vessel's lack of onboard lifting gear and efficiently loaded the turbines onto the ship.”
Venkataraman said several projects were already lined up for later this year as the company continued to grow its footprint in the project cargo sector and expand its market presence.
Goodrich Group will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Middle East 2024, taking place on 12-13 February at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.
