CEVA Logistics, a global leader in third party logistics and an expert in project logistics, organized the end-to-end transport for Wärtsilä, a manufacturer of electric generators and engines.
The project consisted of moving 14 engines and alternators from the Finnish ports in Vaasa and Rauma to the Larivot bioenergy plant construction site in French Guiana.
CEVA Logistics, renowned for its expertise in planning and managing the transport of oversized equipment, was selected to coordinate the multimodal and cross-border transport of the heavy and out-of-gauge industrial equipment destined for the future Larivot power plant in French Guiana.
In early April, seven engines and 3,000 cubic meters of equipment were loaded onto a ship dedicated to the transport of heavy and oversized cargo at the Finnish port of Vaasa. After a stopover at the port of Rauma to load seven additional alternators, the ship sailed from Finland to the port terminal of Dégrad-des-Cannes in French Guiana. One hundred fifty 40-foot containers carrying engine and alternator accessories were also transported to French Guiana on a regular shipping line.
Finally, as part of this project requiring specific transport and handling equipment not available in French Guiana, CEVA also organized the transfer of the equipment via /roll-off ship from mainland France. The two Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) and lifting equipment represented more than 400 tons of equipment.
Following a sea crossing of more than 9,000 kilometers, all industrial equipment—requiring specialized logistics and careful handling due to its exceptional weight and dimensions—was unloaded and stored in a dedicated area of the port terminal. The equipment was then prepared for transport using special trailers from mainland France, specifically designed to support such extraordinary loads.
On the night of May 4, the first convoy departed the port area. Measuring 26.8 meters long, 5.6 meters wide and over 8 meters high while weighing 480 tons, this massive cargo traveled under escort throughout the night for its 5-hour journey across 14 kilometers to reach the Larivot power plant. The delivery of the remaining engines and alternators followed the same method of specialized nighttime convoys, with operations spread across several weekends until July 19.
CEVA, working with trusted partners for this complex project, managed the arrival of each engine and alternator on-site and oversaw their installation on specially designed foundations. This comprehensive approach provided Wärtsilä with a complete turnkey transport and installation service at the power plant.
This oversized transport operation required many months of preparatory studies and engineering work carried out by CEVA’s Project Logistics teams. The planning, anticipation, and assessment of regulatory and technical constraints were completed well in advance of the transport, including administrative procedures in French Guiana to obtain transport permits. After a thorough review of the road between the Dégrad-des-Cannes Port in French Guiana and the Larivot power plant site, it was determined that structural reinforcements were required across fragile bridges and culverts to ensure safe transport.
Chris Grigentin, Project Logistics Europe Director, CEVA Logistics, said: “CEVA’s Project Logistics teams worked hard for many months to design and implement the right chartering and transport solution for the oversized equipment and to ensure its safe delivery and installation. Today, we are proud to have demonstrated our expertise in this kind of project thanks to the trust given by Wärtsilä. We are proud to contribute our logistics expertise to a turnkey project for renewable energy production in French Guiana.”
