Pfaeffikon, Switzerland, October 19, 2026 – For an industrial project, deugro Germany, together with its teams in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Poland, as well as deugro’s Chartering Department, successfully delivered 42 out-of-gauge units totaling 5,746 cubic meters and 26 x 40-foot containers from the UAE to Poland. Despite the challenging geopolitical situation in the Middle East and the resulting operational constraints, deugro’s international teams completed the highly time-critical delivery on schedule.
The cargo was collected in Dubai, UAE, in April 2026. Due to restrictions on vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz, a direct ocean transport from the region was not feasible. deugro UAE and deugro Saudi Arabia therefore rapidly developed an alternative solution, utilizing a vessel chartered by deugro’s dedicated Chartering Department to ship the cargo from the Port of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in May 2026. With supply chains severely disrupted and vessel schedules highly unreliable, the key challenge was securing a suitable vessel at the required location and time. This was essential to minimizing waiting times and additional costs while preventing delays to the client’s project schedule despite the ongoing disruptions.
“The most critical aspect of this project was securing suitable tonnage at a time when the situation in the region was highly dynamic and many market participants were adopting a wait-and-see approach. Despite the uncertainty surrounding vessel movements and operational restrictions, we were able to act quickly, secure a vessel within a very short timeframe, and develop a reliable transport solution together with our colleagues and project partners,” said Jessica Bruns, Chartering Manager at deugro Chartering.
The next challenge was transporting the entire shipment to the Port of Jeddah while maintaining the demanding project schedule. Long waiting times at the Saudi Arabian border and transit procedures under crisis conditions further increased the time pressure. Securing sufficient transportation capacity therefore became essential, requiring the rapid deployment of suitable truck-trailer combinations, which were in high demand and available only in limited numbers.
“Drawing on more than 25 years of operational experience in the UAE and the strong relationships we have built with local transportation and equipment providers, we were able to rapidly secure the required transport capacity, including 33 low-bed and 26 flatbed trucks, and keep the project on schedule despite the exceptional circumstances,” said Nimesh Narayanan, Operations Executive at deugro UAE.
Upon arrival at the Port of Jeddah, severe congestion restricted access to the port, while a temporary outage of the electronic customs system and vessel waiting times of up to ten days added further complexity. Through close coordination and proactive planning, deugro’s teams successfully overcame these obstacles and ensured the project remained on schedule.
To manage the arrival of all break-bulk units and containers, deugro Saudi Arabia swiftly mobilized a dedicated local team. Operating 24/7 in rotating shifts over a three-day period, the team ensured the safe receipt of the cargo and seamless port handling despite the challenging conditions. Through continuous communication with the client, subcontractors, the terminal operator, port authorities, and customs officials, as well as regular status updates throughout the operation, the team successfully coordinated truck arrivals and vessel berthing. This was instrumental in minimizing cargo dwell times and vessel detention while ensuring the time-critical shipment was received, handled, and prepared for loading as efficiently as possible.
“Thanks to the exceptional dedication of our local operation team, the excellent cooperation with our client and all project stakeholders, and a proactive and flexible solution approach, we were able to successfully overcome every challenge encountered throughout the operation. As a result, the critical cargo was safely loaded, stowed, and secured on board the vessel in accordance with the schedule,“ said Sidharth Menon, General Manager at deugro Saudi Arabia
Following the vessel’s arrival in Poland, deugro Poland personally supervised and coordinated the discharge operations. Using the vessel’s onboard cranes, the containers and out-of-gauge components were transferred directly onto trailers arranged by deugro. For the final delivery to the project site, deugro Poland deployed 33 truck-trailer combinations to transport the oversized components, alongside 26 additional trucks carrying 40-foot high-cube and open-top containers.
“Despite the tight schedule and the complexity of handling both oversized components and containers, our team in Poland ensured the safe and efficient discharge, coordination, and onward transportation of the cargo to the project site. Through thorough planning, close cooperation with all stakeholders, and dedicated on-site supervision, we maintained supply chain continuity and supported the successful execution of this time-critical project,” said Michal Tlatlik, Project Manager at deugro Poland.
“The timely loading of the complete shipment, the successful reduction of vessel detention to a minimum, and the earlier-than-planned arrival at the Polish port of discharge were key achievements of this project. Together, these milestones ensured the continuity of the transport chain and supported ongoing construction activities at the project site despite all constraints. This shipment underscores the capability, responsiveness, and dedication of all project partners involved and demonstrates that reliable transport solutions can be delivered even under the most demanding circumstances,” said Jan Hasenbanck, Head of Projects, deugro Hamburg, Germany.
