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Securing reliable, specialised solutions for energy storage products
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Transporting overweight non-standard cargo from China to Germany, the UK, and the US
With little time, a complex journey, and few shipping options, we had to act fast.
The renewable energy industry relies on harnessing the power of the sun and wind. But the sun doesn’t always shine, and the wind doesn’t always blow. That’s why battery storage is essential.
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) allow companies to store energy during periods of low demand and draw on it when demand surges. It’s no exaggeration to say that BESS are the backbone of the green energy revolution.
Our customer, a leading automotive and renewable energy company, is responding to that demand. Headquartered in China, they provide BESS units to utility-scale, commercial, industrial, and residential projects across the globe.
Despite the worldwide need for BESS, shipping this type of equipment poses significant logistics challenges.
Our customer needed to urgently transport BESS units to the US and the UK in 2024, followed by Germany a year later in 2025. Designated as overweight dangerous goods, all three shipments had complex logistical obstacles to overcome.
To solve its transportation troubles, this large BESS manufacturer turned to our team of logistics experts for assistance.
The challenges of shipping BESS units
At first glance, the obstacles to successful delivery seemed daunting.
Each shipment had to comply with complex regulations and reach its destination within a strict deadline.
A shortage of suitable cargo ships and access to staff trained in handling BESS shipments complicated matters further.
If the shipments failed to reach their destinations within the deadlines, our customer could face financial losses and have their business activities obstructed.
Fast action and innovative solutions were needed.
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Time was running out
Our customer had less than two weeks to confirm direct sea freight bookings from China to the US.
The UK and European shipments also had equally tight timelines. Our team had to move quickly to secure space and avoid delays.
Success depended on our ability to make fast decisions and carefully coordinate every transportation stage.
Failure to deliver the shipments on time would result in economic losses.
We were ready to take action to meet the delivery schedule commitments.
Suitable vessels were hard to find
One of the biggest hurdles was securing suitable vessels.
Container ships are the preferred mode of transport for BESS units. However, BESS equipment is classified as overweight, dangerous goods. Only a limited number of vessels are properly equipped to transport BESS units safely. The availability of these vessels is a constant concern.
The US shipment involved a large volume of overweight, non-standard cargo. In total, there were 160 non-stackable containers, each weighing 30 tonnes.
Regular container ships simply did not have the capabilities to transport the cargo safely.
To get the job done, our customer needed the right carriers, and it needed them quickly.
While the UK shipment could have been transported via a container ship, a shortage of shipping resources to Europe severely limited the number of options available.
The customer also faced problems shipping to Germany. Because of the safety risks, many shipping companies are reluctant to transport energy storage cabinets.
Short on time and with no suitable vessels, the situation for each shipment was precarious.
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A mountain of paperwork had to be prepared
An intricate web of bureaucracy needed to be navigated before the shipments could leave the dock.
Incomplete declarations or unqualified transport assets could result in lengthy delays. Every aspect of the paperwork had to be correct.
Our customer had to find a path through the labyrinth of bureaucracy.
The final leg of the journey was far from smooth
Clearing the ports was just the first stage of the journey. There were still challenges to overcome when the shipments arrived at the destination ports.
European ports have stringent safety regulations regarding the shipment of dangerous goods. The German port authorities would not allow the energy storage cabinets to be stored on-site. An alternative storage location would have to be found.
To meet US port regulations, the vessel required corresponding qualifications, certificates, and documentation for transporting dangerous goods, all of which are subject to review by the local maritime authority. Approval to dock would only be granted upon full compliance with every requirement.
The final stage of the journey meant getting past some difficult roadblocks.
In both Germany and the UK, drivers need to have local dangerous goods transport qualifications.
Our customer’s UK client had strict requirements regarding daily delivery quantities. To make sure these deadlines were met, at least ten drivers per day were required. All with the requisite qualifications and experience.
This wasn’t the only obstacle. Once again, it was necessary to manoeuvre through a complicated bureaucratic network.
Britain has exacting land transport regulations. Road permits for overweight cargo had to be obtained and then approved by the local government authorities.
Transporting overweighted goods by road within Germany also requires a special permit from the local government. If the shipment was approved for road transport, it would have to strictly adhere to a specific, preplanned route.
With in-depth industry expertise and an unwavering commitment to safety, our team was well-equipped to provide the necessary solutions.
We moved quickly to break the bottlenecks
Action needed to be taken quickly to make sure each one of our customer’s BESS shipments was delivered safely and on time.
With a vast network of logistics specialists and strong relationships with carriers, we were able to break through the bottlenecks and overcome every obstacle.
Our team wasted no time.
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We secured vessels with the right capacity
Long-term partnerships with leading shipowners enabled us to secure vessels with suitable capacity at short notice.
All vessels met the safety requirements.
Entire shipments were able to be transported in one lot.
A suitable container ship was obtained for the German shipment.
Breakbulk ships were secured for the US and UK journeys.
The issue of space constraints caused by non-stackable cargo was solved.
We set a new standard in logistics
The China-to-US BESS shipment was a milestone achievement.
For the first time in South China, a bulk carrier was chartered to transport energy storage cabinets to the US.
This shipment represents a milestone for the industry and BESS logistics.
We cut through the bureaucratic maze
Multiple documents were completed and submitted to maritime authorities in China, the US, and Europe. This included full port-to-port service from China to the US with additional arrangements for a dangerous goods declaration at Guangdong Port.
Complete regulatory compliance was achieved.
All vessels and vehicles were verified as suitable for every shipment.
We made it past the roadblocks
We applied for all required road permits from the relevant local authorities.
Applications to British and German authorities were made one month before the expected arrival.
Special arrangements were made in Germany for the cargo to be moved from the destination port to an off-port container yard (CY) upon arrival.
We hired a suitable number of ADR (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road) and STGO (Special Types General Order) certified drivers to meet the British client’s daily delivery volume requirements.
Qualified German drivers were sourced and hired. Drivers were provided with a specific, approved route plan for the last-mile delivery.
Despite significant challenges, our customer’s BESS shipments were delivered successfully
Our customer has a longstanding relationship with Kuehne+Nagel as a core supplier of logistics solutions.
This partnership is based on their innovative spirit and our logistics expertise and global network.
By working together to support our customer’s goals, we’re proud to help build reliable, future-ready supply chains that drive growth in the renewable energy sector for a more sustainable world.
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