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"Overlooking Runway 25 - Right, at Los Angeles International Airport"

"The Bridge On The River Shetrumji"

Road Trip - India

Feature Date: Nov. 7 2009

Event Date: Aug. 8 2009

Countryman & McDaniel

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"Overlooking Runway 25 - Right, at Los Angeles International Airport"

On The Scene -- On The River Shetrumji, At Bhavnagar, Talaja, India

 A 2009 Countryman & McDaniel

Cargo Nightmare Prize Contender

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The Cargo Letter Photo Gallery of Transport Loss - Items Below Are Only A Sample

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"Vine Ripened Tires" - M/V Saga Spray -- May 2006 -- Amazing !

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These Are Only Examples

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The Cargo Letter Photo Gallery of Transport Loss

 

 

 

"The Bridge On The River Shetrumji"

Road Trip - India

On The Scene - On The River Shetrumji, At Bhavnagar, Talaja, India

August 8 2009

 

A General Electric Stator - In Better Days

A General Electric Turbine In Transit - In Better Days

 

A Stator On The Indian Road

The cargo here was a "stator" from General Electic.

So this feature must begin with that often asked question: What is A Stator?

A stator is the stationary part of a rotor system, such as in an electric generator or electric motor.

Here the cargo was a General Electic Stator, part of the Pipavav Power Project which was designed before 1990 to convert NG/LNG energy from off shore gas fields to provide power for Gujarat state in eastern India.

Depending on the configuration of a spinning electromotive device the stator may act as the field magnet, interacting with the armature to create motion, or it may act as the armature, receiving its influence from moving field coils on the rotor.

The first DC generators (known as dynamos) and DC motors put the field coils on the stator, and the power generation or motive reaction coils on the rotor. This was necessary because a continuously moving power switch known as the commutator is needed to keep the field correctly aligned across the spinning rotor. The commutator must become larger and more robust as the current increases.

The stator of these devices may be either a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. Where the stator is an electromagnet, the coil which energizes it is known as the field coil or field winding.

An AC alternator is able to produce power across multiple high-current power generation coils connected in parallel, eliminating the need for the commutator. Placing the field coils on the rotor allows for an inexpensive slip ring mechanism to transfer high-voltage, low current power to the rotating field coil.

The stator consists of a steel frame enclosing a hollow cylindrical core (made up of laminations of silicon steel). The laminations are to reduce hysteresis and eddy current losses.

Our stator is like the General Electric unit pictured above -- a huge unit of industrial machinery -- a unit of considerable weight. We do not know the cariage weight of this cargo, but the load is exceptionally heavy. We would likely classify this cargo as an "over-weight load" for normal transit purposes.

Moving a such a unit across the logistics chain from a General Electric facility in the United States to the Pipavav Power Project in the city of Pipavav, India -- requires proper planning. The process does not demand use of rocket scientitists in lab coats -- rather logistics professionals who calculate the risks and determine the proper route for safe delivery.

The August 2009 journey of our General Electic stator proved to be something less than a major project move on the proper route.

UPDATE/CORRECTION - Nov. 15 2009:

With thanks to readers Dale LeDoux, Felipe Holland, Scott Johnson, Ed Mar & Paul Stephens -- we now confirm the cargo was not a it is not a generator or motor stator but a gas turbine, a big one. Paul Stephens identifies the unit as a 350 Mega Watt GE Gas Trurbine. Scott Johnson believes it is most likely a GE Frame 9F gas turbine. Ed Mar confirms the turbine type from the Machinist.In Website.

Thanks to our readers -- we will correct other portions of this presentation. Our use of "Stator" was taken from the cargo manifest for the project, but our data was likely incomplete.

This change in commodity description does not alter our story in any other respect.

Michael McDaniel, your Editor

 

A Cargo Nightmare Prize Contender

The Date: August 8 2009

The Time: 0946 Hrs.

The Place: The Bridge On The River Shetrumji

August 8 2009 -- The General Electric Gas Turbine Has Discharged At Port of Mundra, India

The Move Is 434 Kms To The Pipavav Power Project at Pipavav, India

Undertaking Carriage is J.M. Baxi & Co. -- Established in 1916

The Load is Carefully Secured -- And Managed By J.M. Baxi & Co. With A Crew of 17 Employees

All Is In Readiness For The Move of A Major Piece of Equipment Across India

General Electric Stator Terms of Sale & Risk:
Delivery was FAS.

General Electric was said to have been excluded from logistics support for this move to The Pipavav Power Project at Pipavav, India


The Move To The Pipavav Power Project at Pipavav, India

The Road Crew of J.M. Baxi & Co Has Left The Port of Mundra

But Along The Road J.M. Baxi & Co Has Experienced A Problem At:

The Bridge On The River Shetrumji

The Bridge On The River Shetrumji Has Folded Like A Snack Cracker.

Above, Officials of Ahmedabad Fire & Emergency Services Survey The Loss

The Bridge On The River Shetrumji -- Has Taken The The General Electric Gas Turbine

The 138 Wheel Trailer & 17 Crew Have Plunged 45 Feet (15 Meters)

The Bridge On The River Shetrumji

Opened for traffic in 1984

10 spans of 24 meters each

Width 8.25 meters

Sources Report There Was No Permit Obtained For The Move From Port of Mundra To Pipavav, India

Sources Report There Was No Pre-Move Route Survey Conducted

Sources Report There Was No Pre-Move Strength Assesment Conducted For The Bridge On The River Shetrumji

Five Members of The Crew Have Died On Highway NH -8E -- At The Bridge On The River Shetrumji


Was There A Convenient Alternative To: The Bridge On The River Shetrumji?

The Cargo Letter - Nov. 7 2009

The General Electric Turbine

Was Discharged At Port of Mundra, India For The Risky 434 KMs (270 Miles) Road Move To Pipavav, India.

Was There Another Route Which Should Have Been Considered?

 
ORIGIN: Port of Mudra - upper left of map

DESTINATION: Pipavav - central right of map

 

Port of Pipavav

But ...... The Destination of Pipavav Was Another Port Able To Handle The General Electric Stator

There Was An Alternative All-Water Barge Route Available To Serve The Pipavav Power Project - Not Involving The Bridge On The River Shetrumji

The Cargo Letter - Nov. 7 2009

There are many lessons to be learned from this ill fated 270 mile journey.

Truck drivers may be familiar with a particular route, but unfamiliar over-height or over-weight loads may alter the senses & limits of safety for that driver.

In many jurisdictions all over-height, over-weight or special loads are required to obtain special permits before undertaking a move.

These "Permit Loads" are directed along strict routes to guarantee the overhead bridges will be cleared & all road surfaces & bridges will take the weight.

When no local regulation is available, it is up to the logistics professionals to "Survey The Route" & obtain a "Strength Assessment" where bridges will be asked to carry a huge load.

Whether by government edict or professional requirement -- the movement of loads such as this General Electric Stator must be be carefully planned.

Where this move is concerned, our "SHIP HAPPENS!" motto does not apply to alleged circumstances of:

No Permit

No Pre-Move Route Survey

No Pre-Move Bridge Strength Assessment

The move has taken 5 lives. And the people of Talaja Village have lost their bridge.

Michael McDaniel, Your Editor


Shippers Must Have Quality Marine Cargo Insurance ........ Because......... "Ship Happens! ©"

To Repeat -- No Matter How Careful You Are -- Or Who You Hire ....... "Ship Happens! ©"

Get Your "Ship Happens! ©" Gear!

Visit The Cargo Law Ship's Store For Great Industry Gift Ideas!


The Dedication of This Feature Is Simple: To The Crews of J.M. Baxi & Co. and it's families.


SPECIAL NOTE: The historic dangers of carriage by air & sae continue to be quite real. Shippers must be encouraged to purchase high quality marine cargo insurance from their freight forwarder or customs broker

It's very dangerous out there.


INDEX TO OUR "The Bridge On The River Shetrumji" PAGE SPECIAL FEATURES:

Important Links To Our Feature:
J.M. Baxi & Co. - Founded in 1916, wth a national network of over fifty-five offices in India

The Pipavav Power Project

GSPC Group
Video of The High Tech Operation

General Electric Catalog

GE Pricing

Our Daily Vessel Casualties - stay informed

"Singles Only" - visit our individual moments of transport crisis for more.

The Greatest Container Losses Of All Time - these are the grand fathers -

M/V OOCL America

M/V APL China

M/V APL Panama - The EPIC

"Great Misfortune"- M/V Hyundai Fortune - March 2006


SPECIAL NOTE: The historic dangers of carriage by sea continue to be quite real. Shippers must be encouraged to purchase high quality marine cargo insurance from their freight forwarder or customs broker. 

It's very dangerous out there.

Thanks To Our Contributors For The "The Bridge On The River Shetrumji" Feature

Our Contributor for this feature is greatly appreciated:
Dale LeDoux - Trunkline Gas Company, Electrical Specialist, South Division

Felipe Holland

Scott Johnson - CEO, Bluewater Energy Solutions

Ed Mar

Paul Stephens

Sunil Yeole - Logistics Heavy Lifts, Sharjah - UAE

Anonymous Contributors Must Always Remain Anonymous*


NOTE: Please Provide Us With Your Additional Information For This Loss.

EDITOR'S NOTE FOR SURVEYORS, ATTORNEYS & MARINE ADJUSTERS: The Internet edition effort of The Cargo Letter now celebrates it's 8th Year of Service -- making us quite senior in this segment of the industry. We once estimated container underway losses at about 1,500 per year. Lloyd's put that figure at about 10,000 earlier this year. Quite obviously, the reporting mechanism for these massive losses is not supported by the lines. News of these events is not posted to the maritime community. Our new project is to call upon you -- those handling the claims -- to let us know of each container loss at sea-- in confidentiality. Many of you survey on behalf of cargo interests with no need for confidentiality. Others work for the lines & need to be protected. As a respected Int'l publication, The Cargo Letter enjoys full press privileges & cannot be forced to disclose our sources of information. No successful attempt has ever been made. If a personal notation for your report is desired -- each contributor will be given a "hot link" to your company Website in each & every report. Please take moment & report your "overside" containers to us. If you do not wish attribution, your entry will be "anonymous." This will will benefit our industry -- for obvious reasons! McD


* NOTE: The Cargo Letter wants you to know that by keeping the identity of our contributors 100% Confidential, you are able to view our continuing series of "Cargo Disasters." Our friends send us materials which benefit the industry. The materials are provided to our news publication with complete and enforceable confidentiality for the sender. In turn, we provide these materials to you.  

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