Transportation of 171ton cold box from Namibia to Zambia

Vanguard have completed the complex transportation of a 50m long, 171t cold box, approximately 2,700km from Namibia to Zambia.

Overcoming challenges

Vanguard have completed the complex transportation of a 50m long, 171t cold box from the port of Walvis Bay in Namibia to a copper mine in Solwezi, Zambia.

The operation required a total load combination of 75m and had a gross combination mass of 338t. Vanguard utilised 8 axle and 11 axle Goldhofer multi-axle trailers, two prime movers and 600t capacity turntables. The equipment was configured in a push-pull combination with draw bars at both the front and back to ensure stability and manoeuvrability.

The team of highly skilled drivers, operators and escorts were critical to the project’s success, alongside Vanguard’s engineering and project management teams, who provided continuous support and planning. The cold box had to be transported across approximately 2,700km, requiring meticulous preparation and precise execution.

The operation began in August 2024 when the cold box was discharged and staged on stands at the port of Walvis Bay. Significant route modifications then had to be completed before the transportation could commence, including road works and the construction of 11 by-passes at various locations. This also included travelling through mines to by-pass bridges and congested suburbs. After two months of route modifications, the load was reloaded in October 2024, and the journey began in mid-October. The transport to the mine site took 45 days.

“The route was extremely challenging. Road obstructions and furniture had to be removed or adjusted to accommodate the load. Overnight parking and stopping were complicated by the limited availability of lay-by areas. Poor road conditions and severe congestion often forced our convoy to travel at speeds of just 2–5 km/h. We also had to cross various borders, navigate bridges, by-passes, towns and tight corners, which required the expertise of the whole team,” explained Juan Johnson, Field Manager at Vanguard.

“The biggest challenge in the project, and something which was entirely unexpected, was the extreme public interest that was generated over the course of the trip. Crowds began gathering in Namibia, sparking significant social media attention. By the time we reached Zambia, word of the unusual load had spread, and large crowds gathered to watch us drive by. In towns like Livingstone and Lusaka, hundreds of thousands of people came to watch. In Lusaka, police estimated that over one million spectators turned out. Managing these crowds required extensive support, with over 500 police officers allocated at certain points for escort and crowd control. Despite the logistical difficulties, the whole team managed this with exceptional professionalism.”

After a 45 day transport operation, the load arrived at the copper mine site on Monday, November 25, and was successfully offloaded.

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Transportation of 171ton cold box from Namibia to Zambia

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