Abnormal load specialist, Allelys, was tagged in recently to haul and install eight transformers over two separate projects on the Shetland Islands. As part of a full turnkey solution, Allelys delivered and installed eight transformers for the Kergord Energy Substation and Viking Energy Substation.

The first project involved transporting four transformers, all weighing 168 tonne and measuring 7.5 metres long, 4 metres wide and 4.5 metres high, using a 15 axle modular trailer from Lerwick Port to the Kergord Substation.

The units arrived in pairs into the port and were offloaded by a geared vessel. As one was temporarily stored, another was transported to the site. The cargo, which measured 35 metres long, 4 metres wide and 5.5 metres high, had to traverse multiple steep hills into the site, requiring two tractor units to pull the units up the first hill.

They were then transhipped to an 18 axle SPMT, manoeuvred up the second hill and down the final steep hill into site. The transport route was then repeated for the unit left in storage, before the second pair arrived into the port and the whole operation repeated.

Once on site, they were installed using jacking and skidding techniques in multiple stages. Firstly, transformers one and two were stooled in front of plinth and rotated 90 degrees, they were then jacked and skidded into position. The operation was then replicated for transformers three and four.

For the second project, the four transformers, all weighing 94 tonne, arrived via barge into Rotterdam, where they were transhipped via mobile crane onto Allelys 2 bed 4 trailers and ferried over in pairs to Immingham.