Italian heavy-lift logistics company, Marraffa, demonstrated the benefits of high-quality trailers for heavy and mega loads when it transported an oversized ship’s hull from the shipyard to the harbour basin at the Port of Taranto, at Apulia in southern Italy.
Employing SPMTs (Self-Propelled Modular Transporters) to do the heavy moving, it was a case of multiple parties being involved to ensure the job was a success.
The move was a case of centimetres, as the three modular SPMTs crept forward, slowly but steadily moving the mega yacht hull, measuring about 50 metres long and weighing 220 tonnes, out of the shipyard to the docks.
The operator of the special transport has to be supremely focussed as he walks alongside the SPMTs, guiding the behemoth through the shipyard entrance with just centimetres to spare.
The steel hull had to reach the harbour basin, where it was to be married to the rest of the aluminium superstructure before the finished FB616 mega-yacht could be launched into the water.
Marraffa, headquartered in Martina Franca, Taranto, the company specialises in the transport of particularly heavy and large loads, as well as handling industrial equipment.
SPMT + 14 axle lines
In this transport job Marraffa used three electronically coupled, self-propelled PST-SPMT trailers made by Goldhofer.
A total of 14 axle lines were required to carry this extraordinary load, with the Marraffa team placing one SPMT with six axle lines under the bow, and two with four axle lines each parallel at the hull’s stern.
BPW swing axles
Due to the enormous dimensions of the ship hull, there was also very little space outside the shipyard hall for manoeuvring.
This is where the combination of BPW swing axles, rotating pendulum swing arms and hydro-pneumatic suspension came into its own, showing how the Marraffa team was able to ensure precise manoeuvring in the smallest of spaces – very relevant with moving the mega-yacht.
The BPW Bergische Achsen KG components guaranteed balanced axle loads and enabled large equalisation distances, variable ride heights and extreme wheel steering angles, even with the huge ship hull.
Deploying the electronic multi-way steering, the operator was able to turn and rotate the combination almost on the spot or even move it sideways.
BPW trailer axles proven value
Marraffa’s Head of Purchasing, Pasquale Marraffa, is convinced of BPW components’ quality, with the trailer fleet all equipped with BPW axles.
“We have more than 100 trailer axle lines from Goldhofer, all of which are fitted with BPW axles,” he said.
“The decisive advantage of the swing axles is the large steering angle. This significantly reduces the space required when manoeuvring the combination.”
BPW offers swing axles for 6-60T applications.
In-house workshop + BPW spare parts
Pasquale Marraffa extols the virtues of Marraffa’s own workshop, which ensures that the vehicles are in perfect condition, complemented by the supply of spare parts from BPW. “We are mainly supplied by authorised dealers from the region. We are very satisfied with the constant availability of the parts,” he said.
All ship-shape
The FB616 was the first mega-yacht to be built exclusively in the Buffoluto shipyards in Taranto and, thanks to the combination of Marraffa’s experienced crew and the high-performance transport equipment from Goldhofer and BPW, it arrived safely at the edge of the harbour basin.
A mobile crane then lifted the superstructure of the yacht so that the hull could slide precisely underneath to facilitate the wedding of both sections.
A second mobile crane was needed to lower the mega-yacht into the water.
It then set course for Livorno, Tuscany on Italy’s west coast, where it was to be fitted out and equipped before delivery to the customer.
New 7t swing axle for low loaders
BPW is launching a new 7-tonne swing axle in November 2025, promising to be more economical, more compact and more versatile than ever.
Due to variable application options, the new swing axle can be used with 17.5-inch or 19.5-inch single wheels.
Depending on national and licensing regulations, the universal swing axle can be used flexibly as a 6 or 7-tonne axle, corresponding to an axle line of 12 or 14 tonnes.
Its compact design fully meets the increasing design requirements for low-loader vehicles and ensures optimum utilisation of installation space.
Read more about BPW and its product successes.
