BNSF News

BNSF moves mammoth Mammoet crane

2013-08-22

Earlier this summer, BNSF began the process of moving an industrial crane from the Port of Houston to Ponca City, Okla., where it will be used at the Phillips 66 refinery for six to eight weeks this fall to change out two massive coke drums used in oil refining.

Designed by Mammoet, a leader in the heavy lifting and heavy transport industry, this is one of the world's largest module cranes. It is so large that it takes two months to build and another two months to disassemble. The crane's boom length alone is 587 feet - twice the height of the Statue of Liberty.

The 4,000-ton crane was transported in nearly 200 20- and 40-foot intermodal units, including flat racks, open top/side containers and closed containers. All of the containers were engineered to carry a specific component of the crane and can handle weights in excess of traditional intermodal containers. Some of the 40-foot sections of the crane superstructure can actually double as open containers during transport. Most of the containers were transported in intermodal well cars, although some require heavy-duty flat cars.

"Our biggest challenge was trying to put a new transport situation into practice fairly quickly," said Sean Stacey, marketing manager, Industrial Products (IP). "This move was unlike any other we have managed. We were required to think outside the box when we already had a learning curve."

Conference calls involving at least 20 departments were necessary to arrange and prepare for the move. "We initially thought this process would be cut and dried, but we learned a great deal through the experience," said Stacey. "The experience provided a great opportunity for IP and Consumer Products to use their expertise while working together on a unique project."

A continued partnership with Mammoet may result in fine-tuning the transport process, and Stacey projects BNSF could potentially transport similar machinery up to five times per year.

"Any time we can make rail work for a customer is another chance for us to grow the business and keep more trucks off the road and provide cleaner, more effective transport," said Stacey.

BNSF Headquarters

BNSF Railway Company
2650 Lou Menk Dr. 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 961057
Fort Worth, TX 76161-0057
Phone: (817) 352-1000

For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com