The eyes of both the energy world and heavy haulage industry focused on Taranaki at 10pm on the 15th of November 2011, when this giant gas platform "mega-module" began to inch its way through the streets of New Plymouth.
The bright-yellow, 580-tonne, 19-metre-high (3 storey) 13-metre-wide and 33-metre long accommodation module was built by New Plymouth's Fitzroy Engineering Group, for an offshore platform in Australia's Bass Strait.
The biggest and most expensive single fabrication project undertaken by Taranaki's engineering industry, the $35 million unit was transported on a purpose built 304 wheel, 19 axle heavy haulage platform trailer and transported from Fitzroy headquarters in Waiwhakaiho Valley to Port Taranaki.
Thousands of onlookers lined the streets to watch the load, undeterred by the rain with an average speed of 3kms per hour (a fast walking pace), the epic move took 11 hours for Multi-Trans to complete. Traffic islands and lights were temporarily removed, roads closed and trees pruned to turn the entire route into a clearway.
Check out our videos page for footage of this move.
