"Logistics, especially within the break-bulk segment, is all about local knowledge, mainly with regards to specificities of different ports or with reference to infrastructure, equipment, roads and regulation," explains Nikola Hagleitner, CEO DHL Industrial Projects. "When it comes to break-bulk logistics, our customers rely on our dedicated teams and their extensive expertise in some 60 offices across 45 countries. With this exciting transport we are again reaffirming our role as facilitator of global trade, no matter how challenging the task."

The transit of the four super-sized waste heat boilers starts at the manufacturer's plant in Berlin. From there, they are transported to the airport of Leipzig via the river Elbe, reloaded at the port of Aken and via road. From Leipzig, the heavy lift is then shipped to Saudi Arabia. On their entire journey, the waste heat boilers are moved with the help of a 1,000-ton-mobile crane, a barge and a heavy goods transporter with 20 axles and a total weight of around 275 tons, as well as the unique Antonov AN225 airplane, the largest cargo plane in the world.

"Transporting freight of this enormous scale requires well-orchestrated resources of workforce, expertise and know-how," adds Peer-Wulf Herrmann, Head of DHL Industrial Projects Germany. "We offer our clients safe, compliant and reliable management during the complete process of planning, organization and coordination of the transport. Even though unusual and special transports like this are our daily business, we are always happy to support projects of this nature with our capabilities and making the impossible possible."

The heavy-duty freight is divided into four transports with an interval of roughly two to four weeks, each taking about seven days. The first three waste heat boilers have already arrived at their destination in Jubail at the Persian Gulf. The project is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of August.