Best Overland Transport

Balena Projects successfully delivered a complex press machine shipment from the Port of Detroit, MI, proving that exceptional heavy transport is not simply moved — it is engineered.

The project involved 65 units totaling approximately 2,000 CBM, including multiple oversized components above 100 tons, with the heaviest reaching 185 tons. Due to extreme weight, dimensions, and site constraints, every unit required a tailored transport solution.

A critical milestone was the direct tandem lift from vessel to transport equipment, where two cranes operated in perfect synchronization under detailed lift studies and rigging calculations. This eliminated intermediate handling and reduced risk while demanding absolute precision.

Further complexity required full route engineering, removal of 150 feet of perimeter fencing, and structural widening of facility gates to create a viable delivery corridor. All units were transported on custom multi-axle hydraulic trailers, with tightly controlled delivery windows and synchronized site readiness enabling immediate offloading.

By maximizing payloads, using a modern low-emission heavy-haul fleet, and executing a direct port-to-site model, the project reduced truck movements by 15–20% and achieved an estimated 25–35 metric tons of CO₂ savings versus conventional methods.

This project demonstrates engineering excellence, operational control, and measurable environmental responsibility.

Comark delivered a highly coordinated logistics solution for 160 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) units from China destined for Hungary, supporting one of Europe’s largest PV+BESS projects.

Each unit weighed 48 tonnes, had a capacity of 6.25 MWh and was classified as dangerous goods, making the operation technically demanding and safety-critical. The project was further shaped by a complex timing challenge: the cargo had to be discharged and moved within a tight schedule, while final installation would follow later.

Comark’s scope focused on handling at the Port of Koper and the organization of oversized onward transports to the storage location. The operation required a sustained delivery pace of 160 units in 16 working days, supported by careful planning, precise truck coordination and disciplined execution.

A key advantage was the timely availability of a new 154-tonne crane at the Port of Koper, which played an important role in handling the required cargo volume within the project timeframe. Throughout the discharge phase, Comark maintained a constant on-site operational presence, supported by dedicated surveyors and continuous status reporting.

The DP World Low Carbon Truck Programme is a commercially viable and innovative pathway to decarbonise UK road freight, designed around real-world operational constraints in a fragmented, SMEdominated sector. Delivered with the Road Haulage Association, it combines immediate emissions reduction with a structured transition to zeroemission vehicles.

The programme is executed through a staged approach aligned with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, beginning with the deployment of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), which enables up to 90% lifecycle emissions reduction at cost parity with diesel and without changes to routes, vehicles, schedules, or operational processes. This removes key barriers to adoption while maintaining operational reliability.

The second stage, EVITA, enables access to electric trucks and supporting infrastructure through lowrisk, nonownership models, allowing live operational integration without full fleet replacement. Mandatory carbon literacy training ensures emissions are measured, managed, and reported consistently. Embedded within highvolume container movements through DP World’s UK terminals, the programme decarbonises critical cargo flows supporting retail, manufacturing, and infrastructure supply chains. This delivers cumulative, measurable environmental impact at scale while maximising operational efficiency and creating a replicable model for global application.

This project represents one of the most complex and large-scale overland heavy transport operations executed in India, involving the movement of VGO reactors weighing over 1500 metric tons across an extended distance of approximately 1600–2000 kilometers. Faced with significant infrastructure constraints, the project redefined traditional logistics by integrating civil engineering solutions directly into the transport strategy.

A key highlight was the simultaneous construction of three modular steel bridges, each over 100 meters long and designed to carry loads exceeding 2000 metric tons. These bridges were installed across active canal systems under challenging flowing water conditions, using advanced underwater welding techniques. This approach enabled the creation of direct transport routes, eliminating the need for long detours.

In addition, more than 50 engineered bypasses were developed, including a critical 2-kilometer stretch across waterlogged terrain, ensuring continuous cargo movement. The deployment of over 120 self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs), 300 hydraulic axles, and high-capacity pullers enabled safe and efficient transport across diverse terrains.

By combining innovative engineering, large-scale asset deployment, and optimized routing, the project achieved high operational efficiency while reducing environmental impact, setting a new benchmark in overland heavy transport.