Advance International is claiming to have moved the largest-ever single item of cargo from a Black Sea port as part of a major project freight management contract on behalf of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI).

Loaded on MV Annegret, the 312-ton shipment, consisting of an auxiliary boiler unit 13 metres long, six metres wide and 19 metres in height, was shipped from Constanza, Romania, setting a new record for the country.

From Constanza, the boiler moved via Italy to Oman and arrived just over four weeks after loading. It forms part of a multi-million dollar fertilizer complex being constructed by MHI at Sohar, Oman.

Advance International is the principal freight forwarder contracted by MHI to ship the thousands of parts and pieces of equipment from all over the globe which are being used to construct the facility. On completion the complex will comprise a 2,000 mtpd (metric tons per day) ammonia production plant, a 3,500 mtpd urea production and granulation plant, and supporting facilities.

Commenting on the shipment, Jawad Kamel, Advance International’s President and CEO, said: "This was a shipment to remember for many years. In fact, I don’t know if there will be a larger unit ever exported from the Black Sea in my lifetime. 18 months of work, preparation and planning paid off with excellent results - nothing less than you would expect from Advance."