Solving a High-Stakes Engineering Project of Infrastructure in Greece

5 min read. Updated Jan 2026

In the specialized field of project logistics, success is measured by the ability to handle cargo with extreme dimensions, hazardous degree,route planning and complexity of customs regulation from one country to another.

Recently, BSI Global Logistics (Xi’an Branch) have received a high-complexity multimodal transport operation for a major engineering project. Moving heavy-duty industrial equipment and hazardous materials from China to a remote site on Santorini Island, Greece, the team demonstrated world-class technical expertise and operational strength.

Project Background

1.Cargo: Heavy Engineering Equipment + Nickel-Cadmium Batteries (Class 8 DG, UN2795).

2. Specifications: 8 oversized units, each weighing 9 tons.

3. Logistics Route: Shanghai, China → Piraeus Port, Greece → Santorini Island.

4. Final Destination: A remote construction site with no postal code, can only be located by GPS coordinates.

The Challenge: A "Triple Threat" of Logistics Barriers

The project presented three critical hurdles that demanded a non-standard approach:

1. Technical Complexity: Simultaneous management of Out-of-Gauge (OOG) cargo and Class 8 Hazardous Materials, requiring rigorous lashing, securing, and safe measure.

2. Incomplete Infrastructure: Santorini is a premier tourism hub, not an industrial gateway. The destination lacked shore cranes and regular liner, making the discharge of 9-ton units and barging them extremely difficult.

3.Inappropriate Timing: The arrival window coincided with the Christmas peak. In Europe, trucking capacity and labor drop significantly during this period, risking a complete project standstill.

The '4P' in BSI Global Logistics Solution: Professional & Precautional & Precise & Proactive

To reach the client's satisfaction, BSI Global Logistics implemented a customized strategy:

1. Professional DG Management

We established a comprehensive systematic mindset under the IMDG Code. Our team managed the entire chain—from screening the validity of packaging certification to the clearance commercial documents in both China and Greece—ensuring zero-risk transport and in-time clearance for the hazardous consignment.

2. Precautional risks in OOG Handling for 9-Ton Units

For oversized units, we choose to use 40' Flat Rack (FR) containers. BSI collaborated with port stevedoring experts to engineer custom lifting and reinforcement measures. By following up each tiny details of transloading at origin, we eliminated risks associated with weight and dimension during the long ocean transit.

3. Precise 'the Last Mile Delivery on the Island

Addressing the lack of industrial infrastructure on Santorini, BSI specializes in a "Ferry + Truck" solution. We bypassed traditional port limitations and utilized precise GPS mapping to deliver directly to the "no-address" construction site, ensuring the equipment reached the exact point.

4. Proactive Resource Customization

Facing with the Christmas holiday bottleneck, our team pre-booked specialized heavy-haulage vehicles and local labor 45 days in advance. This foresight ensured that while other shipments were stalled due to seasonal shortages, our client’s cargo moved according to the pre-set engineering schedule without any trouble.

Ending

Our goal that we dedicate everlastingly is to connect the world together. By aligning the logistics solution perfectly with the onsite engineering requirements, BSI Global Logistics ensured that all equipment was delivered safely and perfectly match with the client's expectation and even beyond. This case study shows our capacity to provide tailor-made, end-to-end solutions for the world’s most demanding infrastructure projects.