Vanguard Moves 600 Ton Research Vessel

Vanguard moved the 600t M.V. Ellen Khuzwayo from the shipbuilder’s warehouse
to the synchrolift at the Cape Town Waterfront

Vanguard, South Africa’s premier heavy lifting and rigging specialist, has completed a project using its unique imported Goldhofer trailer system to transport a newly constructed research vessel, the M.V. Ellen Khuzwayo, from the shipbuilder’s warehouse to the synchrolift at the Cape Town Waterfront.

The vessel is named after the late Dr. Ellen Khuzwayo, teacher, social worker, author and a prominent figure in the struggle against apartheid.

Built by prominent Cape Town shipbuilder, Farocean Marine (Pty) Ltd., the vessel was commissioned by a government department to conduct fishery research. The ship weighs approximately 600t and can accommodate 23 people. It is 16.5m (five stories) high, 10.2m wide and 43.2m long, and has taken two years to build.

According to Vanguard’s Managing Director, Bryan Hodgkinson, the move was successfully completed on 23rd May 2007 using the company’s Goldhofer modular trailer system.

Vanguard’s imported Goldhofer modular trailer system transported the ship,
pulled by two Mercedes Titan horses

“This is one of the reasons that we purchased the Goldhofer trailer system. In addition to its versatility and modularity, the trailer is incredibly robust and can be used in a host of applications.”

Vanguard initially imported 24 axles, with a 600t site capacity, and two Mercedes Titan horses. Following the successful use of the trailer in various projects, the company imported a further 12 axles, giving the trailer system a capacity of over 1000t.

“One of the reasons we chose the Goldhofer is that it offers virtual axle configuration. We used two 6 axle trailers, side by side, to transport the heavier stern while the bow rested on one 12 axle trailer. There was a 15 to 20m gap between the trailers which was bridged by hydraulic cables. The virtual axle configuration, set up via computer, enables the axles to function in the same way as they would if the middle axles were actually present. Both horses were used to pull the load on the 4km trip,” says Hodgkinson.

The vessel was constructed in cradles and mounted on pedestals to ensure a smooth transition onto the trailers. Once the overhead crane and one of the warehouse walls were dismantled, the trailers were lowered and manoeuvred beneath the ship. When in place, the trailer was jacked up and the move began.

“As far as we know this is the heaviest item to be transported on a public road in South Africa,” says Hodgkinson.

The stretch of road from the warehouse to the synchrolift was cordoned off to ensure safe passage.