Cargo ship squeezes under world’s second largest bridge

Published time: 14 Jul, 2007 01:45 Edited time: 14 Jul, 2007 05:45

A barge rented by Russia's Lukoil company is underway to its off-shore oil terminal in the Barents Sea. But before it reaches its final destination, the ship had to sail under the world’s second largest bridge with a clearing of only 20 metres.

The ship set sail from Russia's Baltic seaport of Kaliningrad earlier this week. On Thursday morning, it had already entered Danish waters well ahead of schedule.

“If you sail under a bridge, you can make a wish and it will come true” says an old maritime belief. But for ships of that size, going under the bridge requires more than just wishful thinking.

The barge with a cargo of 11,000 tons of equipment has a height of more than 50 meters.

Yorgen Brandt who works at the nearby radar station says that while complicated, such maneuvers are usually handled safely.

The gigantic structure is an oil off-loading dock, which will become part of Russia's oil export terminal on the Barents Sea. Lukoil, the company spearheading the project, says the project is one of a kind.

The company adds that transporting the dock and passing under the bridge is the most difficult part.

To watch how the cargo ship overcomes this challenge, please press the grey button on the right…