Police set to escort near-200 tonne steam turbine as it comes to Port Sutton Bridge

A near two hundred-tonne steam turbine will be escorted by police to a port before being transported by ship abroad.

The cargo is destined for Asia but first will make its way by road with a police escort from the starting point at Peterborough, to the end point at Port Sutton Bridge

Allelys, a heavy-lift specialist transport company, is undertaking the two-day delivery on Monday, September 25 and Tuesday, 26 when road users may expect delays as it makes its way into Lincolnshire.

Gavin Patrick said: “I manage Port Sutton Bridge and I want to energise it and get it back up and running.

“I am not sure what the steam turbine is for but it was built in this country and will be shipped out to Singapore, probably stopping at Antwerp on the way.”

It will travel by road on September 25 and be transferred to the ship on September 26 so there could be delays caused by its journey.

Mr Patrick said: “I wanted to get something out for the locals –this is a specialist thing – I’ve been waiting for this but I am devastated as I will be at a meeting in Germany on the day.”

The machinery will be coming from a factory in Peterborough and arriving at the heavy lifting port which deals in sand, cement and a cargo of scrap metal a month.

Mr Patrick added: “Port Sutton Bridge has easy access from the A17 so it is the preferred port.

“It should have happened in July/August but was cancelled.”

The turbine will be lifted onto the ship at approximately 4pm on September 26.

Project manager Shahid Islam said: “The steam turbine generator is being collected from Howden facility who design, manufacture and services steam turbines and turbine generator sets.

“This particular one has a weight of 176 tonnes.

“During the movement, we will have private escort vehicles that will warn other road users of the approaching convoy. However, the police will also be on hand to control traffic, with the aim to cause the least amount of disruption.

“Once the load arrives at Port Sutton Bridge, we will be utilising a crane to lift the steam turbine generator on to a vessel and this will then move across to Antwerp.

“The port of Sutton Bridge is the traditional access point for Peterborough.

“Port Sutton Bridge was chosen due to being a 350m long port and being able to accommodate 120m max vessel lengths, good marine access linked to road access through to the major road networks and heavy lift capability.”