Abnormal loads specialist Allelys has completed the transport as installation of two units (a generator and a transformer) from Buckie Harbour to Rothienorman Substation.

To facilitate the transportation of the units to the site, Allelys initiated route-enabling works in early 2022. This involved conducting route surveys, carrying out swept path analysis, and topographical surveys to develop a comprehensive route proposal. To ensure smooth transportation, vegetation clearance was carried out, and temporary removal of street furniture and fencing was necessary.

Additionally, widening one of the roads and constructing a 17.5-meter overbridge across Gardensmill Bridge was necessary to accommodate the transport arrangement. Engineering work was also needed to discharge cargo from the vessel, as the limited space made it impossible to position the crane and girder frame simultaneously. To address this challenge, a solution was devised to mobilize half of the girder frame and push the trailer to the end of the pier.

Loading the heavy units

The LG1550 was then rigged in front of the trailer to lift the 352-tonne generator and position it onto bog mats, also in front of the trailer. The 158-tonne transformer was then lifted and received onto 12 axle lines of SPMT and transported to temporary storage. The LG1550 was then derigged to allow space for the second half of the girder frame to be moved into position.

The generator, which measured 13 meters (length) x 4.1 meters (width) x 4.3 meters (height), was transported along the route using a 28-axle girder frame configuration. The transformer, which measured 8.5 meters (length) x 3.4 meters (width) x 4.5 meters (height), was transported on a 16-axle girder frame.

Planning in detail

Both units were transhipped to SPMT on site due to the limited space in the substation. The installation process involved using a hydraulic gantry system to install the generator and a jacking and skidding operation to install the transformer.

“All of our heavy lift projects are engineered in-house and we enjoy projects that test us. We have significant knowledge and experience within the team and this enables us to tackle complex projects such as this one. The access into the Rothernorman Substation site was particularly challenging and required the input from the engineering team alongside our route survey and route planning specialists.” explained Anthony Callachan, Head of Heavy Lift and Specialist Transport at Allelys.

“We also experienced severe weather conditions during the transportation of the generator and the road, which had a steep incline, was holding too much water and impacting on the traction of the equipment. Therefore, we made the decision to move to our contingency plan of stopping within the road closure and mobilising two extra trucks to provide the necessary traction.”

This project not only demonstrated the knowledge and experience within the Allelys business but also the ability to adapt to severe weather conditions to ensure a successful delivery for our client.