Vuorsola moves 300-tonne LNG tank 31 kilometres to Finnish port
30-Second Takeaway
Finnish heavy haulage specialist Vuorsola transported a 300-tonne LNG tank 31 kilometres from Teuva to the Port of Kaskinen using two Cometto MSPE self-propelled modular transporters. The SPMTs operated side by side with a combined 36 axle lines to carry the tank, which measures 15 metres wide and 14 metres high and has a capacity of approximately 2,300 cubic metres. Thawing ground conditions left few suitable places for the convoy to stop, so it had to keep moving across much of the route. Crews widened parts of the route, rebuilt an access ramp and modified traffic islands and dividers. A special road-closure permit allowed the SPMTs to travel on public roads.
36 axle lines carry the tank to Kaskinen
Vuorsola used two Cometto MSPE SPMTs operating side by side to move the tank from Teuva to the Port of Kaskinen. The 31-kilometre route crossed the Finnish countryside, with the transport combination carrying a load 15 metres wide and 14 metres high.
The LNG tank has an approximate capacity of 2,300 cubic metres and is destined for a future maritime application. Its size required extensive route preparation before the move could proceed.
Thawing ground conditions limited stopping places
The operation took place during Finland’s thawing season, when reduced ground-bearing capacity limited the number of suitable locations for fuel stops and breaks. Vuorsola said the convoy therefore had to remain in continuous motion across much of the route.
“One of the biggest challenges of this transport is the tight schedule. Finland is still experiencing the thawing season. After assessing the ground-bearing capacity, only a limited number of suitable locations are available for fuel stops and breaks,” said Elina Hassinen, deputy managing director and transport manager at Vuorsola.
Route preparation created clearance
At several points, the tank was more than twice the width of the seven-metre road. Crews created approximately four metres of additional clearance on each side to allow the load to pass. An access ramp from Highway 8 was rebuilt, while traffic islands and road dividers were modified along the route. The SPMTs’ electronic steering helped guide the transporter combination through tight sections, including a particularly narrow passage beside a Finnish country house.
Power lines and public-road approvals
Overhead power infrastructure presented another challenge. Along one coastal section, the lines could not be lowered, so a subsea cable was installed as an alternative. Vuorsola’s engineering team also developed methods to lift 110 kV power lines above the transport, which stood 14 metres high.
The move required a special road-closure permit because SPMTs are normally used on closed industrial sites in Finland and are not generally approved for public-road operation. The permit allowed sections of the route to be converted into controlled transport corridors. Highway 8 was closed for several hours as the convoy passed, with diversions in place.
About Vuorsola
Based in Pori, Finland, Vuorsola specialises in lifting and special transport. The company says its operations have evolved from earthmoving and crushing to focus on crane work and heavy transport.
View website: https://vuorsola.fi/en/
About Cometto
Cometto develops and manufactures modular heavy-load transport systems, including MSPE self-propelled modular transporters. Its electronically steered modules are designed to be combined into transport configurations suited to oversized and heavy loads.
View website: https://www.cometto.com/
Frequently Asked Questions
How heavy and large was the LNG tank?
The tank weighed 300 tonnes, measured 15 metres wide and 14 metres high, and had a capacity of approximately 2,300 cubic metres.
What equipment did Vuorsola use?
The company used two Cometto MSPE SPMTs operating side by side with a combined 36 axle lines.
Why did the transport need a special road-closure permit?
SPMTs are generally used on closed industrial sites in Finland and are not normally approved for public-road travel. A special permit allowed road sections to be closed and used as controlled transport corridors for the move.
