Crofton Industries recently had the opportunity to collaborate with World Distribution Services (WDS)—a leading provider of creative logistics solutions in Norfolk, VA—to haul some pretty unique cargo!

WDS specializes in out-of-gauge freight as well as project work and began receiving components for a large telescope as early as November 2015. The telescope would be used in The Greenland Project, an international effort to study a black hole. The telescope parts would need to eventually be transported to a supply ship headed to Greenland. It would take the coordination of many moving parts, so WDS began coordinating with Crofton in March of 2016 for the mobilization that would take place in late June.

Crofton coordinated its comprehensive group of services and expertise to execute the transport from start to finish. The Grove 9000E crane was used to lift the telescope pieces on two separate 4 Axle Fontaine Double Drop trailers. Due to the over dimensional size of the telescope pieces the haul had to take place after 9 PM and required the assistance of private, local police, and state police escort vehicles, in addition to Crofton’s in house escort services. Crofton coordinated all escort schedules, permit acquisition, route surveys for clearance, and a step by step traffic plan so that evening traffic could continue uninterrupted, especially for emergency vehicles.

The telescope traveled safely from the WDS yard in Norfolk to Crofton’s yard in Portsmouth. The following week, Crofton facilitated the mobilization to the Greenland bound supply ship using their crane, barge, & tug services. Once in Greenland, the telescope would be assembled and travel another 700 miles on over-sized sleds to its final destination.

Crofton Industries is proud to provide a comprehensive group of in house services that help to solve our client’s complex business needs. Jason Strickland, World Distribution’s Domestic Procurement Manager shared, “We are very proud to call Crofton a partner as they have assisted us with so many dynamic projects by providing services ranging from trucking to crane work and rigging.”