While the controversy simmers, Port of Vancouver officials said they’re focusing on successfully handling the shipments of massive oil equipment — some weighing as much as 155 tons. The nine oil modules due on Monday will arrive in the first of 15 shiploads of an estimated 200 pieces of oil sands refinery equipment. The import operation will last from October to June 2011. The mega-pieces of oil equipment come in different shapes and sizes, with unusual centers of gravity that make handling them a challenge.
The port will deploy its two Liebherr LHM 500s heavy-lift mobile cranes to take hold of the modules.
The port has handled heavy-lift cargo, including rock crushers and giant drill-bit components, but the oil modules are “just a bit bigger than the stuff we’ve handled before,” said Alastair Smith, port director of marketing and operations.