2026-05-26
The first loading operation has recently been completed at the newly built heavy-duty quay in the Port of Norrköping. The inaugural cargo could hardly have been more spectacular – Hitachi Energy’s record-breaking transformer, weighing an impressive just over 400 mt.
The transformer was transported from Hitachi Energy’s factory in Ludvika following extensive planning and preparation by a large number of logistics specialists. The journey attracted considerable attention, not least due to the record-breaking weight of the transport and the advanced logistical setup. The transformer, which arrived in Norrköping by vessel, was previously unloaded for interim storage at the terminal while awaiting shipment for export to China.
A future-focused investment
The new heavy-duty quay is one of the Port of Norrköping’s most important infrastructure investments. It enables the port to receive and handle extremely heavy and complex cargo safely, efficiently, and competitively—something that is crucial for Swedish export industry and for customers such as Hitachi Energy, which has a long-standing collaboration with the port.
“This marks the beginning of a new era in our ability to handle project cargo and heavy units. It makes it even more rewarding that the inauguration involves cargo from Hitachi Energy, which for many years has shipped numerous transformers via the Port of Norrköping,” says Ola Hjärtström, Deputy CEO of the Port of Norrköping.
“The transportation of our largest transformers involves complex projects where precision, safety, and close collaboration are essential. The heavy-duty quay strengthens our long-term delivery capacity and is an important step in meeting the growing demand linked to the energy transition,” says Anna-Karin Larsdotter, Transport Manager, Power Transformers at Hitachi Energy.
A major team effort
Unloading from and loading onto vessels of cargo of this magnitude requires precision, specialized equipment, and close coordination between all parties at the quay. Preparations for the inaugural operation have been ongoing for a long time, both at the port and at Hitachi Energy, where equipment, vehicles, and logistics arrangements have been adapted to enable the transport of such a large and heavy unit.
A quay designed for extreme surface loads
Handling a transformer of this size requires not only advanced lifting technology but also a quay structure capable of withstanding extremely high surface loads.
“The reinforced structure of the heavy-duty quay, P8, is designed to handle very high point loads as well as extensive distributed loads. The quay surface is built with heavily reinforced sections and additional piling to ensure stability under extreme load conditions, with a capacity of up to 10 tonnes per square metre. This means that even very heavy units, such as transformers and other project cargo, can be placed and moved across the surface without compromising safety or structural integrity. This capacity is a fundamental prerequisite for enabling the advanced lifting and handling operations now being carried out at the quay,” says Eric Gustavsson, Project Manager for the quay construction at the Port of Norrköping.
Ola Hjärtström, dept CEO
Tel: +46-11-25 06 55
E-mail: ola.hjartstrom@nhs.se
Eric Gustavsson, projektledare
Tel: +46-11-25 06 21
E-mail: eric.gustavsson@nhs.se
