CEA Project Logistics Thailand were contracted for the transport, storage and export of a catamaran ferry from Chonburi to Freetown in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The catamaran is an ISO Cat. B Offshore Class, weighing 17tn, measuring 17m in length and powered by four Yamaha GETU 250HP engines. When in service, the ferry can carry 80 passengers and crew.

The ferry was moored at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Chonburi, Thailand. The CEA teams arrived at the site and supervised the initial lift from the water via a straddle carrier and the subsequent loading on to a specially fabricated frame which was attached to a standard low-bed transport trailer.

Due to height restrictions on Thailand's roads, the top section of the ferry was removed and loaded and secured with ratchet straps onto a separate trailer to allow a safe movement along the route to the CEA facility. Once the CEA rigging teams had also secured the main section of the ferry to its trailer, the prime mover left the yacht club to make the 33km journey to CEA Free Trade Zone in Laem Chabang where it was held in storage until the shipping vessel, Atlantic Dawn arrived at port.

After seven days in storage, the ferry was transported to Laem Chabang Port under CEA escort and readied for loadout which included the top section being reattached. Port and vessel stevedoring teams executed the loading and stowage aboard the Atlantic Dawn and CEA provided all the necessary shipping and customs documentation in preparation of the export. Please click the gallery below for photos.

Upon receiving the order to manufacture the catamaran, the client did not anticipate any issues in shipping such a boat to Sierra Leone. However, after extensive and unsatisfactory services from 4 different freight forwarding companies, they contacted CEA who offered an excellent full turnkey service. The client stated; "From the point we made contact with CEA, what had been a most unpleasant, expensive and frustrating experience became a routine operation. The teams at CEA arranged prompt and hassle-free transport from the Ocean Marina Yacht Club to Laem Chabang and the subsequent loading onto the vessel a week later. All this was achieved with minimal involvement required from us which was so refreshing from what we had previously experienced. A professionally handled project from start to finish by CEA!"

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