MOVING AND LIFTING TANKS: BALTIC TANK GETS MOVING
Baltic Tank has taken
this route on several
occasions, making
small relocations in order to
effect repairs - such as
moving a 3000 cu m tank
some 20 metres in order to
recondition the tank bottom,
and then returning it to its
original position.
Baltic Tank has also
carried out long-haul
relocations. The largest
operation took place in the
autumn of 2004, when the
company moved a number
of tanks over land and sea
across some 700 nautical
miles, from Kemi and
Kokkola in Finland to Kunda
in Estonia.
The move involved two
8000 cu m tanks, plus a 400
tonne, 11000 cu m tank with
a diameter of 36.5m. There
were also two smaller tanks
of 1500 and 2000 cu m. The
steel tanks were mainly for
oils storage, though one
stored caustic soda.
After an in-house planning
stage, the operation began
with the use of ten 30-80
tonne hydraulic jacks to lift
the tanks. This was in
conjunction with heavy lift
trucks alongside platform
trailers in order to move the
tanks onto the tug and
barge that would carry them
overseas. Four Baltic Tank
staff managed the operation,
co-ordinating with the heavy
lift trucking company and
tugmaster.
Getting the tanks from
their original position to the
water's edge presented one
of the biggest challenges.
