Transport of Airport Baggage Carts to Mexico – Flexible Port Diversion Solution

Challenge

Our agency received an inquiry from our agency to transport several airport baggage carts from China to Mexico. The client initially preferred Ro‑Ro vessel shipment. However, this cargo presented multiple operational difficulties: the tow tractors and elevating carts have extremely low ground clearance, making it highly likely that driving them onto a Ro‑Ro ramp would cause undercarriage abrasion and damage. 

Secondly, Ro‑Ro space was fully booked at that time, and the next available sailing was too late to meet the required shipment deadline. Thirdly, the originally requested discharge port, Manzanillo on Mexico’s west coast, is a conventional container terminal where container vessels enjoy berthing priority, forcing other vessel types to wait at anchorage. 

This significantly reduces discharge efficiency, increases transport costs, and consequently deters most shipowners from calling at Manzanillo. These compounding factors created a complex logistics challenge that demanded a customised solution.

Solution

To address these constraints, our team conducted thorough consultations with the client and carefully evaluated multiple route options, vessel schedules, operational feasibility and overall costs. 

Following a comprehensive assessment, we recommended changing the discharge port from Manzanillo to Veracruz on Mexico’s east coast, and selected a heavy‑lift tweendecker vessel suitable for the equipment’s dimensions and unit weights. 

For the elevating carts to be stowed on deck, we worked closely with the manufacturer to confirm that their packaging was appropriate for breakbulk sea transport and fully suited for deck stowage. We then finalised the deck loading arrangement with the shipowner. In addition, our team coordinated all aspects of the operation, including vessel scheduling, documentation management, terminal liaison and cargo handling, ensuring smooth execution from origin to destination.

Result

Following an ocean transit of approximately two months, all baggage carts arrived safely at Veracruz Port in excellent condition.

Key achievements:

• ·         Zero cargo damage
• ·         Zero delivery delays
• ·         Successful handling of overweight and out-of-gauge equipment
• ·         Full client satisfaction

This project highlights our expertise in managing complex heavy-lift and out-of-gauge shipments and demonstrates our ability to develop practical, cost-effective solutions when standard transportation methods are not feasible.