Heavyweight Transport for Fives Cryo – Cold Boxes on the Move

In May 2023, Hellmann France successfully delivered two oversized cold boxes — weighing up to 120 tons — from Golbey, France, to the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, as part of the Rajasthan Refinery Project. A complex multimodal operation that demonstrated Hellmann’s expertise in heavy lift and project cargo logistics.

Starting Situation

Fives Cryo, a global specialist in cryogenic equipment, required the transport of two massive cold boxes from its production site in eastern France.

The units measured:

12.49 m x 6.30 m x 6.40 m – 120 tons
8.25 m x 5.44 m x 5.40 m – 80 tons

Due to their extreme size and weight, the units could not be containerized and required a carefully coordinated breakbulk solution. The route from factory to port involved rural roads, small village passages, and cross-border coordination.

Solution

Hellmann France developed a tailored multimodal transport concept:

Road transport from Golbey to the inland port of Nancy (75 km), including narrow village roads and last-minute rerouting due to civil works
Inland barge transport from Nancy to the Port of Antwerp
Breakbulk vessel loading in Antwerp for onward shipment to India

The entire operation was completed in under five days through precise planning, real-time flexibility, and close collaboration with local authorities.

Watch the full transport in action:

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"This operation was a real opportunity for Hellmann to prove our know-how in handling oversized cargo and show our full commitment to the customer.”- Sergio Araujo, Business Development Manager Project Cargo, Hellmann France