36 Ton Ship's Rudder Shipped By Air

Emirates SkyCargo came to the rescue of a ship undergoing repairs when it transported a 36-ton rudder part - the heaviest single item ever carried by the freight division of Emirates Airline. The rudder stock, which measured 9.16 meters long and 1.05 meters wide, was required for urgent repairs to a vessel at Dubai Dry Docks.

The part - tailor-made by Korean steel manufacturer Taewoong - would normally be transported by sea, but a quick solution, namely use of an air courier, was required to reduce the cost of the ship being out of service. In conjunction with Dubai-based charter broker Air Charter International, it was transported on a Boeing 747-400F Emirates freighter from Seoul to Dubai and tested ground-handling operations at both airports to the fullest.

"Transporting a piece of air cargo this heavy requires the highest degree of care and special handling," said Hiran Perera, Emirates' Senior Vice President Cargo Planning & Freighters. "Two cranes capable of lifting 50 tons each, along with two high loaders were required, while more than 30 workers in both Seoul and Dubai made sure the intricate loading operation went smoothly."

Emirates SkyCargo's fleet includes nine freighters (three Boeing 747-400Fs, two 747-400ERFs, three 777Fs and one 747-400BDSF).

FMI: www.skycargo.com