deugro has transported more than 7,324 cubic meters and 1,441 metric tons of oversized equipment from Oman to Belgium for the INEOS Terminal Expansion Project, working on behalf of Worley and in coordination with teams in Belgium, the Netherlands, Oman, and dteq Transport Engineering Solutions.

The shipment included multiple heavy‑lift units weighing more than 200 metric tons each, including ethylene vessel skids, refrigerant chiller skids, and refrigerant compressor skids.

The cargo was collected from the Sohar Industrial Estate using SPMTs and hydraulic trailers, though some units required double handling after dteq found they had been positioned too close to obstacles for direct loading.

Once secured, the components were moved 18.5 kilometers to Sohar Port, traveling at night due to size and weight restrictions and under escort from deugro teams and the Royal Oman Police. The route had been surveyed in advance to confirm safe passage.

At the port, the units were lifted onto the vessel using onboard cranes. Because several skids had lifting lugs designed for much larger shackles, deugro and dteq introduced custom spacer rings and sleeves to allow the use of lighter, safer rigging.

“Working at a height of 12 meters with a shackle and pin weighing over 100 kilograms becomes challenging and dangerous. Therefore, we requested approval to use lower and lighter shackles to ensure easier and safer lifting operations,” said Giovanni Nigro, Senior Naval Architect, dteq Transport Engineering Solutions.

The cargo was secured with welded H‑beams and wire lashings before beginning its 10,800‑nautical‑mile, 38‑day voyage to Antwerp via the Cape of Good Hope.

After arrival at the PSA Breakbulk terminal, the vessel discharged the units onto two RO/RO flat‑top pontoons for transfer to Singelweg Quay. A floating crane was used for final offloading due to limited ground capacity at the pier.

The crane lifted each unit directly onto waiting SPMTs or hydraulic trailers, with operations timed around significant tidal variations.

“Meticulous planning and preparation, combined with close and clockwork-like operational collaboration and communication between all partners, as well as the seamless coordination between on-site project management and transport engineering, made this project a success,” said Joost Maranus, Project Manager at deugro Antwerp.