In July, Air Charter Service (ACS), a prominent aircraft charter specialist, successfully coordinated the delivery of two heavy aftercoolers, each weighing nearly 50 tons, from Italy to an offshore oil platform under construction in Indonesia.
Jason Bird, Cargo Director of ACS Singapore, explained that the transportation of the 48-ton units to Batam, an Indonesian island near Singapore, posed unique challenges due to the cargo’s weight. “We recommended utilizing an Antonov 124 to transport the aftercoolers directly to Singapore Changi Airport, where the advanced cargo handling facilities and availability of external cranes would facilitate offloading,” Bird noted.
Leading up to the charter, ACS collaborated with an engineering firm and the airline to design a specialized cradle for safely supporting the units during loading. The European team leveraged their experience in securing road permits and arranging escort vehicles for oversized loads, ensuring the cargo’s movement to Milan Airport was efficiently managed. The aftercoolers were stored overnight in a warehouse prior to the flight, and airside permits for the cranes were arranged ahead of time. Bird confirmed that the loading process in Milan proceeded smoothly.
Upon the aircraft’s arrival in Singapore, Bird and the customer ensured a seamless offloading process. The customer also requested ACS to organize overnight storage in Singapore, as well as trucking services, which included obtaining necessary road permits and escorts for the final leg of the journey to the port. ACS arranged for the same cranes used at the airport to facilitate the loading of the aftercoolers onto the ship bound for Indonesia.
Dan Morgan-Evans, Group Cargo Director at ACS, emphasized the importance of the company’s global network in managing such complex operations. “This charter exemplifies the collaborative efforts of our offices worldwide in orchestrating intricate logistics across continents,” he stated.
