Page 116 - Rukert - 100th Anniversary

In the midst of the “B” berth reconstruction, Rukert Terminals received an inquiry about stevedoring a new project cargo — wind turbine components. Vice President Frank Olszewski,
who followed cargo trends closely, knew that
wind power was a growing industry with much promise. He also knew that successful and efficient handling of wind equipment requires a great deal
of planning. Wind turbine components, which are easily damaged, must arrive at the wind farm site
in flawless condition and often on a tight deadline. In addition, accommodating the oversized or oddly shaped components on the pier and adjacent space would likely require moving existing cargo at the terminal. Eager to bring in new business and ready for a challenge, Frank took the lead preparing for this complex undertaking. Frank met with the management team and his outside business contacts to plan each stage of the operation, from permitting to trucking.
Rukert Terminals did not ease into the wind power business. The first ship scheduled to arrive at Lazaretto was the largest shipment of wind towers ever carried by a vessel! In June of 2010, the M/V Maria Oldendorff arrived carrying 112 wind turbine tower sections from China. Each oversized section weighed between 50 and 70 tons and cost millions of dollars. When the ship docked, employees were excitedly nervous. One employee, who had decades of general cargo experience, remembers thinking “what did we get ourselves into?” Under Frank’s leadership, Rukert and Beacon employees had a comprehensive and coordinated plan to assure safe and efficient discharge, storage and transport of the tower sections.
Skilled operators carefully unloaded the wind towers from the ship using a combination of cranes in tandem. Later, the wind towers were
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