Vanguard completes complex transportation assignment

Vanguard, a specialised heavy lift installation company, has completed the complex transportation of a 50 m-long, 171 t cold box from the port of Walvis Bay, Namibia, to a copper mine in Solwezi, Zambia

In order to complete the operation – which required a total load combination of 75 m and a gross combination mass of 338 t – Vanguard utilised 8-axle and 11-axle Goldhofer multi-axle trailers, two prime movers and 600 t capacity turntables. This was configured in a push-pull combination with drawbars at both the front and back to ensure stability and manoeuvrability.

Facing a journey of 2,700 km, meticulous preparation and precise execution was required. The cold box was discharged at Walvis Bay in August 2024 and, in order to reach its destination, significant route modifications were required, including road works and the construction of 11 by-passes at various locations. This also included travelling through mines to bypass bridges and congested suburbs.

After two months of route modifications, the journey began in October 2024 and took 45 days to reach the site. The successful execution of this has been attributed to the excellent work of Vanguard’s engineering and project management teams alongside highly skilled drivers, operators and escorts.

“The route was extremely challenging. Road obstructions and furniture had to be removed or adjusted to accommodate the load,” Juan Johnson, field manager at Vanguard. “Overnight parking and stopping were complicated by the limited availability of lay-by areas. Poor road conditions and severe congestion often forced our convoy to travel at speeds of just 2-5 km/h. We also had to cross various borders, navigate bridges, by-passes, towns and tight corners, which required the expertise of the whole team.”

“The biggest challenge in the project, and something which was entirely unexpected, was the extreme public interest that was generated over the course of the trip. Crowds began gathering in Namibia, sparking significant social media attention. By the time we reached Zambia, word of the unusual load had spread, and large crowds gathered to watch us drive by. In towns like Livingstone and Lusaka, hundreds of thousands of people came to watch. In Lusaka, police estimated that over one million spectators turned out. Managing these crowds required extensive support, with over 500 police officers allocated at certain points for escort and crowd control. Despite the logistical difficulties, the whole team managed this with exceptional professionalism.”