Empowering Industry: Omega Morgan’s Specialized Transportation Division Moves Six Transformers

In partnership with a valued customer and leading power provider in the Pacific Northwest, the specialized transportation division of Omega Morgan’s Portland location successfully received an unprecedented six transformers from one shipping vessel, transporting them to Umatilla and Arlington, OR. This project required flexibility and close coordination with the Port of Portland and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). As always, the Omega Morgan crews were at their best in the face of challenges and were able to successfully complete the project, helping the power provider expand service in the eastern region of the state.

A CAREFULLY-PLANNED HEAVY EQUIPMENT TRANSPORT

This specialized transportation project began with meticulous coordination between the Omega Morgan crew and the Port of Portland stevedores. The Port’s stevedores were required to be present before any work could begin, so synchronizing schedules was essential.

The next step was to acquire the proper permits from ODOT. In doing so, the crew discovered they would need individual super-load permits for each transformer as well as numerous transport permits for each time the truck returned to the Port to pick up the next transformer.

Once those logistics were sorted, the transportation portion of the project began—and it was not without its challenges. The final destination for the six transformers had not yet been decided by the owner. However, the Omega Morgan team lost no time. While awaiting answers, they got to work offloading the transformers from the shipping vessel and moving them to a temporary staging area within the Port.

RAISING THE BAR FOR HEAVY LIFT AND TRANSPORT COMPANIES

Each of the six transformers weighed 299,829 pounds with dimensions of 28′ 1″ x 15′ x 15′ 5”. It is uncommon that this many transformers arrive on one vessel, and only three could be offloaded per day.

The Omega Morgan crew worked efficiently, offloading one transformer at a time. They began by first offloading each transformer from the shipping vessel, landing it onto a 6-line SPMT trailer and securing it. They then transported it to the storage area at the Port, where the crew had preset sliding equipment. The crew slid the transformer from the trailer onto crane mats for temporary storage. The truck and trailer then headed back to the vessel and repeated the process for all six units.

HEAVY HAUL TRUCKING TO THE POWER OF SIX

When the destination for each transformer was determined, the crew went back to the temporary staging area at the Port and used the slide gear system to load the transformers onto Omega Morgan’s 160-ton dual-lane trailer.

The crew was only permitted to transport at night so the transportation process involved loading one transformer during the day, then transporting it overnight. They repeated this process over a series of days, delivering the transformers one-by-one. The first four units went to substations near Umatilla, OR and the final two went to Arlington Yard. The final two transformers will be stored until the owner is ready to use them at other substations.

EXPANDING THE ENERGY INDUSTRY WITH SPECIALIZED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

Transporting units of this size took time and careful planning, but the Omega Morgan team executed each leg of the move to great success and the client was pleased with the outcome of the project.

This project was an excellent example of Omega Morgan’s continuous support of the energy industry as it expands and improves. Thanks to the crews’ flexibility, hard work, and safe operations, the energy provider is able to grow in eastern Oregon and serve a broader region.