Cometto SPMT Fleet Moves 646-Tonne Batavia Reconstruction Ashore
30-Second Takeaway
Q3 Heavy Lift has moved the 646 tonne reconstruction of the sailing vessel Batavia ashore at Lelystad, the Netherlands, using 56 Cometto SPMT axle lines. Following ten months of engineering and preparation, two transporter trains carried the ship and its 101.2 tonne cradle approximately 250 metres from a pontoon to Museum Batavialand. The transporter configuration was selected to distribute loads across the cradle and limit deflection beneath the vulnerable wooden hull. A jacking system subsequently lowered the vessel onto its permanent concrete foundation, providing a dry location and improved access for long-term maintenance.
Cometto SPMT
Two Cometto SPMT trains, each comprising 28 axle lines, transported the full-scale Batavia reconstruction across the Markermeer dike and into its permanent position at Museum Batavialand. The vessel recreates the Dutch East India Company ship built in 1628. Its relocation required a transport arrangement that protected the timber hull while negotiating the transition from pontoon to land.
The ship weighed approximately 646 tonnes, with its purpose-built cradle adding 101.2 tonnes. Together, the vessel and cradle represented approximately 747.2 tonnes, excluding the transporters themselves.
Protecting the Hull Through Load Distribution
The choice of 56 SPMT axle lines was driven by more than transport weight. Q3 Heavy Lift needed to distribute the load over a sufficiently large area of the cradle and minimise deflection beneath the wooden structure.
The cradle measured 39.7 metres long and 15.5 metres wide. Supporting it appropriately was central to maintaining the vessel’s shape during movement. The two 28-axle-line trains provided the arrangement selected for the operation, combining substantial support coverage with the manoeuvrability needed along the short but demanding route.
Transporters Assembled in Dordrecht
Q3 Heavy Lift assembled the Cometto equipment in Dordrecht before transporting it by pontoon to Amsterdam. There, the two SPMT trains drove beneath the cradle carrying Batavia. The complete arrangement was then shipped to Lelystad for the final roll-off and overland movement. This sequence brought the transporters into position beneath the vessel before arrival at the destination, preparing the ship for its move from the pontoon onto the museum grounds.
Preparing the Pontoon-to-Land Transition
At Lelystad, the pontoon was positioned against a purpose-built ramp designed to maintain a shallow approach angle. Load-spreading mats and crane mats were installed along the route. The full 250 metre path was surveyed for ground pressures, subsoil conditions and underground services. That preparation addressed the conditions beneath the transporters as well as the geometry of the roll-off. The short distance still required detailed assessment because the loaded arrangement would cross the dike and manoeuvre into a precise final position.
Ard Suvaal, Project Manager at Trans Global Projects, said:
“It is only 250 metres, but if you drive over a pipeline you didn’t know was there, you have a problem. That groundwork is what makes the difference on a job like this.”
Across the Dike and Into Position
After leaving the pontoon, the two SPMT trains carried the vessel across the Markermeer dike. The team then turned and reversed the ship into its final position on the grounds of Museum Batavialand. The following day, Q3 Heavy Lift used a jacking system to transfer the vessel from the transport arrangement onto its permanent concrete foundation.
The operation therefore combined marine transport, a controlled roll-off, coordinated transporter movements and final jacking.
A Permanent Dry Home for Batavia
Batavia now stands more than eight metres higher than at its former quayside berth.
The new position keeps the timber structure dry and provides improved access for inspection and maintenance, supporting its long-term preservation. The vessel will become the centrepiece of the redeveloped Museum Batavialand, scheduled to open at the end of 2028.
About Q3 Heavy Lift
Q3 Heavy Lift is the operational division of Q3 Group, executing engineered lifting and transport plans through teams of operators, riggers and mechanics.
The wider group combines heavy lifting, transport, freight forwarding and the engineering, design and production of specialised project tooling. This brings equipment movement and purpose-designed support systems within a coordinated project offering.
For the Batavia assignment, Q3 reports involvement across cradle design and engineering, SPMT transport, jacking and final positioning, working with Museum Batavialand and Trans Global Projects.
Official website: www.q3-group.com
About Cometto
Cometto develops and manufactures self-propelled modular transporters, heavy-load modules and industrial transport vehicles. Its equipment serves heavy transport, shipbuilding, heavy industry, oil and gas, offshore and project logistics applications. Modular systems allow transport arrangements to be configured around the dimensions, support requirements and weight of individual loads.
The manufacturer reports more than 70 years of experience in specialised transport equipment. Its portfolio includes systems for moving large structures and industrial components, with shipyard applications among its established areas of activity.
Official website: www.cometto.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What vessel was moved?
The full-scale reconstruction of the 1628 Dutch East India Company sailing ship Batavia was moved ashore at Lelystad.
How much did the vessel and cradle weigh?
The vessel weighed approximately 646 tonnes and the cradle 101.2 tonnes, giving a combined load of approximately 747.2 tonnes.
How many Cometto SPMT axle lines were used?
Q3 Heavy Lift used 56 axle lines, arranged as two trains of 28 axle lines each.
Why was such a large transporter arrangement selected?
The configuration distributed loads across the cradle and limited deflection beneath the vulnerable wooden hull.
How was Batavia placed onto its foundation?
After the SPMT move, Q3 Heavy Lift used a jacking system to lower the vessel onto its permanent concrete foundation.
