HONG KONG: June 12, 2018: Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) handled two outsized loads weighing almost 19,000kgs for long-time customer AirBridgeCargo Airlines. The shipments were carried aboard two of the carrier's new Boeing 747-8 freighters departing from Schiphol and stopping at Hactl before continuing on to their final destination in Guangzhou on the Chinese mainland.

Due to their length, the machinery components were secured to customized built up pallets and had to be unloaded through the aircrafts’ nose doors. Unable to use cranes due to local regulations, Hactl deployed four main-deck loaders, which had to be lowered in perfect alignment to avoid any damage to the cargo.

Manoeuvring the unloaded cargo from aircraft side to the cargo terminal presented a further major challenge; traffic on the ramp road was temporarily re-routed, and a direct path to the terminal was cordoned off, to provide a straight journey without any sharp turns.

Says Hactl Chief Operating Officer Chee Hong Tan: “These were among the longest shipments we have unloaded from B747 freighters, and required extreme care due to their size, weight and delicate nature. It’s at times like this that the vast experience and skills of our ramp team really come into their own, ensuring this unusual cargo was handled with the necessary care, and that the aircraft departed on schedule.”