Cargo particulars and task
Our customer needed to move a used Delmag RH28 drilling rig from Kilsyth, near Glasgow, to Bleiburg, Austria. The main machine weighed 68 tonnes and measured 24.47 × 3.30 × 3.66 m in its transport configuration.
The mast could not be dismantled for this move. ENKEL therefore planned around the complete transport envelope, coordinating specialist road equipment, the North Sea crossing and the permitted inland route through continental Europe.
Solution
We arranged a multi-axle low-loader for the Scottish collection and port delivery. Its low loading deck and axle configuration suited the heavy tracked machine, while the long mast required attention to the loaded combination and its route.
The sea leg connected the UK heavy-haulage stage with a separate specialist road combination in the Netherlands. ENKEL coordinated the equipment at both ends, terminal handling instructions and abnormal-load permits for the onward movement through Germany into Austria.
Challenges
Shortly before collection, the originally booked sea service could no longer accept the rig. The inland preparation was already in place, so ENKEL had to revise the UK port, crossing and handling arrangements together.
The replacement service required a different loading procedure: the UK transport team had to unload the machine directly on board. We coordinated this requirement with the terminal and road team, aligning the port slot with abnormal-load movement restrictions, driving hours and rest periods.
We also assessed an inland-waterway option towards Germany. Deck-loading constraints made that option unsuitable for this machine, so the continental stage was planned by road. The German and Austrian permits and escort arrangements had to match the selected transport combination before the final journey could proceed.
What was done
The rig was scheduled for collection in Kilsyth on 7 August 2026, with an intermediate yard stop allowing the UK road movement to be aligned with the revised sailing. ENKEL secured a replacement crossing from Killingholme to Rotterdam and coordinated the arrival time for vessel loading.
On 10 August, the UK transport team confirmed that the Delmag had been unloaded onto the vessel. We then coordinated the Rotterdam discharge and access to the machine with the continental transport team, while following the Austrian permit approval and keeping the receiving parties informed of the delivery plan.
Result
The rig reached Austria in mid-August 2026. The revised operation combined Scottish heavy haulage, a replacement sea crossing and a permitted road movement through the Netherlands and Germany to Bleiburg.
This project illustrates ENKEL’s approach to heavy machinery transport: assessing the complete machine configuration, selecting suitable equipment, coordinating route permissions and adapting the transport plan when a booked service becomes unavailable.
Planning a heavy machinery move between the UK and Europe? Explore our heavy haulage services and Ro-Ro shipping solutions, or contact ENKEL Project Logistics with your route and cargo details.