Finnish steel transport solution

MacGREGOR introduced transport solutions developed by Langh Ship at the International Steel Forum arranged by Metal Bulletin in Prague on 21 September. The three-day forum focused on topical issues within this field, one of which was the requirements set for the steel transportation chain. Kim Olin, Senior Naval Architect with MacGREGOR (FIN) Oy, spoke at the forum and introduced the solutions for transportation of steel products developed in collaboration by Langh Ship and MacGREGOR.

“Today, steel is a highly processed product that needs to be treated with kid gloves at the different stages of the transport chain,” Kim Olin said. “As the products are also extremely heavy, transporting them is very challenging”. High quality stainless steel is also expensive, and its storage time should be kept as short as possible. From this point of view, smooth logistics are of the utmost importance.

A shipping company with seven vessels, Oy Langh Ship Ab has done a lot of research and development in recent years to solve problems related to maritime and intermodal transport of steel products. The best known of the methods developed is carrying large steel coils on cradle tweendecks. This reduces the overstability typical of steel transport ships, and protects the coils from cargo damage during sea transportation.

For intermodal transport, i.e. in which the goods can be smoothly transferred from one mode of transport to another at different stages of the transport chain, Langh Ship has developed transport units with high payload capacity, such as special containers and transport cassettes. Both Outokumpu and Ruukki steel mills have taken new containers into use.