Total Movements: From Coast to Hinterland

Interview by Simon West

In the remote, unforgiving terrain of Assam in northeast India, where fragile road infrastructure constrains the movement of industrial cargo, Total Movements is pushing the limits of heavy-lift logistics. The company is currently executing the multimodal transport of more than 45,000 freight tons of cargo for the Numaligarh Refinery Expansion Project (NREP), one of India’s most ambitious refinery upgrades. Total Movements’ CEO Satish Kumar Singh shares insight into the scale and complexity of this remarkable operation.

From Issue 1, 2026 of Breakbulk Magazine

Q: Can you walk us through the scope of this project?

SKS: The 45,000 freight tons for the NREP comprises some 25 super over-dimensional cargoes (ODCs), with components measuring up to 70 meters and weighing up to 1,286 tons. With conventional road movement unfeasible due to terrain and infrastructure constraints, the team has developed a custom route involving road, coastal shipping and riverine barging via Bangladesh. The ongoing scope includes innovative solutions such as vessel conversion, barge reinforcements, jetty construction and a 1,550-ton-capacity bridge build.

Q: Can you describe the exact route the cargo is taking from origin to site?

SKS: In the first phase, handled entirely by Total Projects, the components are moved by SPMTs and barges from the supplier’s factory in western India to Mumbai Port. The units are then shipped from Mumbai to Kolkata Port, a distance of some 2,100 nautical miles. In the second phase, carried out with ABC India, the cargo is transferred to riverine barges and carried 900 nautical miles north through Bangladesh and back into India to a jetty near the project site, before completing the journey by road to the final destination.

Q: What innovative approaches are you employing to ensure the success of the operation?

SKS: To transport the 1,286-ton Super ODC along the Indian coastline, we chartered the Jumbo Fairmaster, one of only two vessels globally with a lifting capacity of 3,000 tons. As Indian regulations mandate the use of Indian-flagged vessels for coastal shipping, we successfully facilitated the vessel’s conversion from a foreign to an Indian flag, enabling compliant movement from the West Coast to the East Coast. A second example was how we modified our barges. Prior to this project, riverine barges in the Kolkata region were designed to handle single pieces up to 500 tons. To accommodate Super ODCs exceeding this weight, we structurally modified the available barges to meet the required deck strength for safe river transport. Additional innovations have included the design and construction of a jetty to reduce the impact of river currents on moored barges, dredging in the Brahmaputra River to overcome shallow waters and the installation of a bridge over the Kalyani River.

Q: What has been the most rewarding aspect of the project for you and your team?

SKS: Despite navigating through complex terrain, dynamic river conditions and intricate cross-border regulations, the project continues to progress safely, efficiently and on schedule. Every milestone achieved underscores the synergy of innovation, planning and technical excellence that defines Total Movements’ approach.

Total Movements is a member of The Heavy Lift Group (THLG).

Top photo: The cargo is offloaded via jetty for final mile delivery. Credit: Total Movements