Two PSUs on one vessel
M/V Happy Sky was selected to transport two brand-new Pneumatic Ship Unloaders (PSUs) for our client Reel Alesa. These impressive machines will be used to unload alumina and coke at the upgraded Alcoa facility in Trois-Rivières, Canada.
Although BigLift Shipping and Reel Alesa have a long-standing partnership, this was the first time two PSUs were shipped on a single vessel. Each unit was 50.6 metres long, 17.4 metres wide, and 30.8 metres heigh, with a rail span of 9 metres. Fitting both onto one deck required careful planning and precise execution.
Tailored stowage and seafastening designs were developed to accommodate the PSUs and their support systems. Space constraints meant the machines had to be moved along the deck on a custom-built rail track, using steel wires and pulleys, with pulling and braking power provided by the ship’s cranes. Given their height and weight - 305 tonnes each - robust seafastening was essential to ensure safe passage across the Atlantic under autumn conditions. Support structures for the PSU boom and machine house were designed to be detachable, allowing separate handling at the discharge quay.
Loading presented another challenge: the quay could not support the weight of an SPMT carrying a PSU, so an outreach of 21 metres from ship’s side was required. Thanks to Happy Sky’s long crane jibs and great lifting capacity, this was achieved without difficulty. For land transport, an innovative solution employing two BigLift lifting beams eliminated the need for costly additional equipment.
Discharge at the renovated quay in Trois-Rivières demanded precision. Aligning the PSUs’ discharge chute with the conveyor system required near-perfect levelling, which was achieved while the machine was suspended. The operation was completed in just two days, followed by one day to remove all seafastening and load-spreading structures. Thanks to excellent cooperation among all parties, Happy Sky spent only three days in port before departing for her next assignment.
This project highlights BigLift’s ability to combine technical expertise with creative problem-solving—delivering complex cargo safely and efficiently.