A large yellow component of crane equipment, classified as oversized cargo, securely fastened onto a red flatbed trailer pulled by a blue truck for its road transport phase from Latvia to a European port, en route to Guinea.

Flawless delivery of oversized cargo for uninterrupted port operations

Lazarus Forwarding implemented an international project for the delivery of oversized equipment for a port crane from Latvia to Guinea.

The challenge of the task lay not only in the dimensions of the cargo but also in the complexity of the delivery point: the destination port lacked the standard infrastructure to receive extra-wide cargo.

Our team designed a customized logistics scheme, utilizing Break Bulk sea freight, ensuring 24/7 monitoring, cargo insurance, and the complete safety of the equipment until installation.

The result — the crane resumed operation without downtime, continuing to process valuable ore at the berth.

Route Geography

The route extended from the Port of Riga (Latvia) to the Port of Conakry (Guinea), covering a distance of over 6,000 nautical miles.

This is one of the typical routes requiring professional coordination between European and African parties: handling export documents in the EU, cargo certification, insurance, and organizing sea transport in tropical conditions.

The cargo was a metal component of a port crane with a non-standard width—over 4 meters. Because of this, it was classified as oversized industrial cargo, requiring individual lashing and handling.

Stage 1. Technical Preparation and Transport Planning

Before commencing transport, the Lazarus team conducted engineering preparation for the route and port operations:

precise measurements of the equipment were taken and 3D stowage plans were developed;
the center of gravity and lashing points were calculated;
loading and unloading plans were prepared, taking into account the port equipment in Latvia and Guinea;
permits and safety certificates were processed;
cargo and carrier liability insurance was secured for up to €250,000.

The preparatory stage allowed for the advance consideration of weather, navigational, and technical risks to ensure safe delivery along the entire route.

Stage 2. Loading at the Port of Riga

Loading was carried out under the supervision of Lazarus engineers and representatives of the insurance company.

To secure the oversized structure, the following were used:

heavy-duty marine lashing chains and fittings;
anti-slip pads under support areas;
vibration sensors to monitor stability during the vessel’s rolling.

Each stage of the loading was documented with photo and video reports, allowing the client to monitor the process in real time.

Stage 3. Sea Freight: 24/7 Monitoring and Coordination

The Lazarus Secure Route™ Marine system was activated for this project, which included:

satellite tracking of the vessel and cargo position;
transmission of route and weather data every 30 minutes;
daily reports to the client on the voyage status;
coordination with the captain and port agents at intermediate stages.

Constant monitoring made it possible to react quickly to changing weather conditions in the Atlantic and ensure complete delivery transparency.

Stage 4. Unloading and Handover in Guinea

The main difficulty lay in the unloading point: the Port of Conakry has limited technical capabilities and small berths not designed for handling extra-wide cargo.

The Lazarus team developed an engineering plan for unloading in advance, which included:

use of a floating crane and mobile port equipment;
temporary restriction of movement in the unloading area;
coordination of actions between local contractors and Lazarus specialists.

The unloading was completed exactly on schedule and without damage.

Thanks to precise work on-site, the equipment was installed and connected to the port crane, which resumed ore handling operations that same day.

Risk Control and Safety

Lazarus Forwarding adheres to a “zero incident” policy when transporting oversized cargo.

In the “Latvia – Guinea” project, we ensured:

dual route monitoring (satellite and dispatch);
full-value cargo insurance;
contingency plans in case of weather restrictions;
a 24/7 communication center with the vessel and port agents.

The result — 100% equipment integrity, no damage, and adherence to the schedule down to the minute.

Project Results

Cargo delivered on time and without damage.
Unloading was successful, despite the port’s limited infrastructure.
The crane resumed work immediately, ensuring uninterrupted ore processing.
The client received full reporting and confirmation from the insurance company.

The yellow crane, successfully transported from Latvia to Guinea by Lazarus, is shown fully operational at a port, lifting a large load of reddish-brown valuable ore from a pier.

Why Companies Choose Lazarus Forwarding for Sea Freight

10+ years of experience in international transport of oversized and heavy cargo.
Expertise in organizing sea and multimodal logistics for Europe – Africa – Asia.
Proprietary Lazarus Secure Route™ system — 24/7 control at all stages.
An engineering approach: calculations, plans, lashing, documentation, insurance.
A personal manager and transparent reporting for the client.

We don’t just transport — we manage complex projects where the cost of an error is millions of euros.

Conclusion

The “Latvia – Guinea” case study became a prime example of how Lazarus Forwarding combines maritime expertise, engineering precision, and strict quality control.

Even with a complex unloading point and the cargo’s oversized width, the project was executed flawlessly.

Thanks to the team’s professionalism and systematic work, the client avoided downtime and was able to resume operation of the port equipment on time, ensuring the uninterrupted handling of valuable ore.

International sea freight for crane equipment from Latvia to Guinea