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Transporting three massive Boeing 777 fuselages and their components across Saudi Arabia was no small feat. But for logistics powerhouse CEVA Almajdouie Logistics, it was just another day at the office.
Moving oversized cargo is always a logistical puzzle, but when it involves three Boeing 777 fuselages, six wings, and an assortment of aircraft accessories, the challenge becomes even more complex. Weighing in at approximately 120 tons each, the fuselages alone required specialized trailers and precise route planning to ensure safe transport from Jeddah Airport to Riyadh Boulevard.
The 1,250-kilometer journey spanned 14 days, navigating through both bustling cities and remote villages. With cargo dimensions reaching an impressive 70 meters in length, six meters in width, and eight meters in height, the operation required meticulous engineering calculations and coordination with multiple authorities to clear roadblocks—both figuratively and literally.
A Test of Logistics Expertise
Each step of the journey demanded rigorous preparation. CEVA Almajdouie Logistics, a joint venture where CEVA Logistics holds a majority stake, deployed in-house owned equipment, including 78 axle lines of hydraulic trailers and 6×6 prime movers for the fuselages. An additional 15 extendable low-bed trailers were mobilized for the wings, ensuring proper weight distribution to protect road infrastructure.
Transporting aircraft of this size on land is anything but straightforward. Engineers carefully mapped out the best routes, favoring roads with lower traffic density to minimize disruptions. Even then, the scale of the operation required temporary shutdowns of over 120 power lines along the route to ensure clearance for the convoy.
Coordination and Execution
Executing a project of this magnitude involved seamless collaboration with key stakeholders. The Ministry of Transportation and Saudi Electric played crucial roles in facilitating the transport, providing clearances and infrastructure support to ensure minimal disruption to the public. Timing was everything, with authorities coordinating power line shutdowns and rerouting traffic at critical points to maintain safety.
Precision planning was equally essential when maneuvering through urban areas. Traveling through Saudi Arabia’s major cities required strategic scheduling to avoid peak traffic hours. Convoys were meticulously timed to move during off-peak periods, ensuring minimal interference with local commuters.
Delivering Results
CEVA Almajdouie Logistics once again demonstrated its expertise in handling out-of-gauge cargo, successfully delivering all components to their final destination on schedule. The project showcased the company’s ability to manage oversized transport in challenging conditions, proving that with the right team and equipment, even the heaviest loads can be moved efficiently and safely.
