Abnormal Load Services – ALS Specialised Transport and Logistics Solutions for Rail Cargo

Abnormal Load Services (ALS) offers specialised transport and logistics solutions for the global movement of heavy, oversized, abnormal and difficult cargo in several sectors, including the rail industry.

ALS works with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), contractors and plant dealers to transport new and second-hand equipment, such as bogies, locomotives, carriages, tanks and wagons.

The company’s experienced staff understand its clients’ needs and are dedicated to providing a service that reflects the professional standards demanded in the current business world.

ALS can handle express road or air shipments for the construction, mining, tunnelling, marine, oil and gas, engineering, energy and renewable energy industries.

Worldwide break bulk, heavy lift, charter and project cargo shipping solutions

ALS’ specialist in-house project teams can handle any out-of-gauge or heavy lift project cargo offering global, break bulk, part charter, heavy lift vessels, roll-on-roll-out (ro-ro), containerisation and UK port agency services.

The company work with clients from the initial proposal stage through to the contract stage, providing outline feasibility assessments and budget costs when bidding for new business. This will be confirmed against final specifications and general arrangement (GA) drawings when orders are secured. ALS employs computer-aided design (CAD) technology for load planning and route assessment (swept path analysis).

The company’s dedicated chartering team is fully supported by an extensive worldwide network of ships, enabling it to rapidly source the most suitable vessel to suit our clients’ requirements.

Chartering, tonnage and project management services

ALS provides services for dry-cargo tonnage (not limited to break-bulk carriers), as well as multipurpose, reefer, ro-ro and heavy-lift tonnage.

Supplying full or part load shipments, the company also supplies voyage and time chartering, bareboat contracting, sale and purchase of ships, project engineering, wet and try towage, and float-on / float-off operations.

ALS also offers freight covers, as well as consultancy and market information.

Follow-up operations for cargo shipments

ALS’ operations department provides clients’ with a complete follow-up after the shipment has arrived.

The department can handle the entire operation of vessels and voyages, including preloading preparations, cargo clearance, custom arrangements, documentation work, and the arrangement and supervision of stevedoring operations.

It also provides liability insurance, on / off hire surveys, instructions to master and agents, weather-routing, disbursement accounts and hire calculations, as well as bunkering arrangements at the lowest price on the market.

The company can also assist with vessel performance control regarding speed and bunker consumption, as well as conduct all correspondence with owners / shippers on the client’s behalf.

Whatever the size and scale of a project, ALS can advise and help clients to develop the ideal solution.

Intermodal transportation services for abnormal loads and heavy equipment

As heavy machinery and plants becomes more and more sophisticated, ALS’ operational teams recognise that every out-of-gauge transportation requirement is unique. It requires specialist knowledge and attention to detail to ensure that the most secure and effective movement is provided to satisfy our clients’ requirements.

ALS’ experienced operators are available to provide help and advice for domestic, international and worldwide heavy haulage requirements, including the following:

• Intermodal transportation solutions such as air, road, rail, sea, canal
• Ship chartering: full and part
• Turnkey project management
• Job site transportation
• Planning, supervision and representation services for free on board (FOB) projects / shipments
• Crane planning, hire and management
• Contract services team
• Advice and management for major projects
• Specialist installation, erection and decommissioning services
• Pre-project logistics planning, survey reports and feasibility studies
• Permits for escort cars, police escorts, attendants, and authority notifications
• Insurance: all levels of insurance can be arranged
• Security and bonded warehousing