Having been smashed off its rail mountings by a passing ship, a 900 ton ship loader belonging to Durban Port operator Bulk Connections, a Bidvest Company, the machine lay badly damaged, at a 27 degree angle supported by what was left of the shore side supply conveyor.

Which, by all accounts, had it not been for the conveyor the ship loader may have tipped over completely.

Anxious for an urgent salvage solution Bulk Connections, supported by their insurance company, went out to the three companies that could handle a job of this size. Vanguard being the only South African company with the required capabilities, the other two compies being a Dutch and British heavy lift companies.

Under the guidance of MD Roland Cumings, Vanguards senior project engineer Ron Wiggle and his department handled the tender. Within the required 14 days Vanguard had devised a workable solution and was ready to present to the client.

After an exhaustive due diligence the client concluded that despite the other companies vast international experience, Vanguards proposal from all aspects of getting the job done, of which not least was the safety factor, was by far the best and thus duly placed the order with Vanguard.

Pre-engineering and fabrication started almost immediately as Vanguard’s heavy lift department kicked into action. With the required modifications made to their EZ 600 ton hydraulic lift system Vanguard were ready to mobilize for the job site within the allotted 10 days.

Using a combination of 1 x 600 ton hydraulic lift system, specially modified to reduce the potential side load, 22 Goldhofer self-propelled axle lines, two power packs, a 400 ton and 250 ton mobile crane, the 650 ton Ship Loader was eventually lifted back into an upright position and relocated about 150 m on the quay side and re-positioned back on to its bogies, ready for repairs.