Around 920,000 meters of cable and a total weight of around 43,000 metric tons: Project logistics experts at DB Schenker are currently handling one of the most extensive logistics projects for the energy transition. A total of 876 cable drums are being transported from Kobe, Japan, and from Mannheim, Germany, to three German locations in Emden, Wesel and Krefeld as part of an integrated multimodal transport concept for Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., a cable manufacturing company. The cable drums are stored until needed at the construction site. They are to be installed at the so-called Corridor A-North for a new high-voltage grid of transmission system operator Amprion. The project will make it possible to use wind power from the North Sea in the conurbations of the western part of Germany.

Thorsten Meincke, Member of the Management Board for Air and Ocean Freight, DB Schenker: "As the world's leading specialist for project logistics, DB Schenker offers its customers optimal end-to-end solutions from a single source. We have extensive expertise in managing projects that are complex in terms of geography, time and volume. We are proud that our experts are making a contribution to the success of the energy transition in this challenging project."

Monitoring of the loading of cable drums on heavy load truck (Picture credit: DB Schenker / Max Lautenschläger)

Daniel Wieland, Senior Vice President Global Projects & Industry Solutions, DB Schenker: "Our global team of experts is orchestrating this extensive large-scale project. Our project specialists are providing our client with customized, safe and reliable services, from the design, planning and coordination of the multimodal transports to customs clearance, storage and delivery."

The cable drums, which weigh up to 85 metric tons each, can have a diameter of more than four meters and be up to eight meters long. As part of the Corridor A-North high-voltage grid, the cables will bring wind energy from northern Germany to the metropolitan areas of the most populous federal state, North Rhine-Westphalia, forming one of the main arteries of energy transition.

DB Schenker is transporting the cable drums from the production site in Japan by ocean-going vessel from the port of Kobe to Emden or to the western ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam. From there, the cable drums will be transported to Krefeld and Wesel by inland waterway vessel. DB Schenker is also transporting cable drums from a second production site, in Mannheim, to the three interim warehouses by inland waterway vessel and heavy goods vehicle.

With this combination of services, DB Schenker is offering the cable manufacturer Sumitomo a multimodal transport concept from a single source. The solution covers the entire logistics value chain and includes coordination of all modes of transport, pre-carriage ex works by truck and inland waterway vessel, port handling, cargo monitoring and the chartering of multipurpose cargo ships, customs clearance, special official permits and the provision, organization and monitoring of more than 11,000 square meters of interim storage facilities in Emden, Wesel and Krefeld. DB Schenker’s own project-specific IT solutions provide up-to-date information on the complete progress of the project.