Break Bulk Cargo movement by ECU Miami

A weighty task made easyMoving heavy weights while overcoming various challenges comes naturally to the Miami-based Projects Department of ECU Worldwide

An expert in handling out-of-gauge and break-bulk cargo to and from America throughout the world, this three-member team has been etching new stories of success every day.

A recent accomplishment of the team includes a break bulk cargo movement of two boilers, each weighing 106,000lbs, from America to Colombia. The boilers measured 166 inches in height and 146 inches in width. The request for shipping these two massive containers came from a large brewery based in Colombia — Central Cervecera de Colombia S.A.S. The company manufactures and markets beer and non-alcoholic drinks.

The dynamic Miami team

The Projects Department in Miami was set up in 2003. The team comprising Roger Wilson, Alexis Cabrera, and Yusleidys Sanchez moves an average of 15-20 files per month. They primarily depend on routings from other international offices of ECU Worldwide as well as the company’s sales team in America. The heaviest consignment moved by the team includes three propane tanks — each measuring 41 metres in length and weighing 138,111lbs (62,647kgs). This was moved from America to Montego Bay in Jamaica.

On an express journey

The two boilers for the brewery were first transported from the state of Georgia down to the port of Miami in Florida. This movement on road took two days. Multi-axle lowboy trailers were needed to distribute the weight of the boilers for the road movement. In this case, the cargo was moved with Seaboard who offered below-deck services, placing the boilers on multiple flat-racks as a base. An ocean voyage of six days followed this, after which the consignment reached the port city of Cartagena in Colombia.

Among the three team members, Alexis Cabrera was responsible for handling this assignment. He has been serving the Projects Department for four years now and his association with ECU Worldwide spans over 22 years. Talking about this project, he shares, ”Choosing the right carrier and port of loading was the key to delivering the consignment within our client’s rushed time-frame.” As anticipated, the shipment ran smooth. Escorts and over-weight permits were needed for the American portion of the movement to the port. Therefore, the transit was allowed only during specific hours and escorted by the police.

The dynamic Projects team in Miami, U.S.A The dynamic Projects team in Miami, U.S.A

The three propane tanks moved between America and JamaicaThe three propane tanks moved between America and Jamaica

Efficiency in a collaborative effort

An ECU Colombia-routed shipment was taken up by the ECU Miami Projects team. This meant that there were two offices involved in the movement of this cargo. The coordination with various entities necessitated investment of time and effort. Special cranes were arranged at the port to lift the two boilers and the movement was meticulously managed after coordination with the vessel, port, and the trucker.

An important aspect of this extra-ordinary feat of the team has been the ability to befriend the ocean waters. Using waterways can always be tricky! Special care was taken to ensure the availability of proper loading and unloading equipment at the origin and destination ports.

The secret to success

A combined knowledge of 42 years is the key to the success of this team. Regular meetings with carriers and truckers as well as referring to industry newsletters keep the team updated with new services and assets available for the movement of over-dimensional cargo. As stated by Roger Wilson, head of the Projects Department, ”Obtaining the complete cargo details along with pictures and diagrams are vital to processing quotes accurately and timely.”