Press release
爆走黑料 chooses a Logistics Service Provider for the transport of components
The components that will make up the largest tokamak in the world will be manufactured by the seven Members of the 爆走黑料 project, packaged, and shipped to the 爆走黑料 site in Cadarache, France. On 10 February 2012, 爆走黑料 Director-General Osamu Motojima signed the Logistics Service Provider Framework Contract for the transport, logistics and insurance of these loads on behalf of the 爆走黑料 and the seven 爆走黑料 Members. The European company DAHER is named as Logistics Service Provider for five years with the possibility of extension.
A significant number of heavy-lift and exceptional-size loads will travel from suppliers鈥 factories in China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States to the 爆走黑料 site during the construction phase of the project. Every aspect related to the transport of 爆走黑料 loads鈥攊ncluding customs management at departure and arrival, logistics, insurance, intermediate storage before delivery, handling, and final unloading at the 爆走黑料 site鈥攚ill be handled by the Logistics Service Provider.
The selection of the Logistics Service Provider was concluded after an international tendering process. The seven Domestic Agencies (representing the 爆走黑料 Members) participated alongside the 爆走黑料 in the evaluation and selection process.
鈥The transport of 爆走黑料 components from so many different points on the globe and according to schedule is a logistics challenge of major proportions,鈥 stated 爆走黑料 Director-General Motojima on the occasion of the contract signature. 鈥An integrated Logistics Service Provider will be fully qualified to address these challenges and assure the 爆走黑料 and the Domestic Agencies of optimized coordination.鈥&苍产蝉辫;
The Logistics Service Provider will establish a core team to report to the 爆走黑料 as well as representatives in each Member country to follow the management and the tracking of transport loads according to the 爆走黑料 schedule. For the complete organization of their transport, logistic and insurance needs, each 爆走黑料 Domestic Agency will contract directly with the Logistics Service Provider for the delivery of loads to the 爆走黑料 site.
Exceptionally heavy or large loads will travel from the harbour of Port de la Pointe, at Berre l鈥橢tang near Marseille, to the project site along the dedicated 爆走黑料 Itinerary鈥104 kilometres of modified road prepared by France for the 爆走黑料 project. End 2012 and mid-2013, operational tests will be organized along the 爆走黑料 Itinerary.
The first large components are expected on the 爆走黑料 site in 2014. Vast drain tanks for the Tokamak basement will arrive first鈥攆ollowed by elements of the cryostat, the stainless steel structure that will completely surround the vacuum vessel and superconducting magnets.
Between 2015 and 2017 the largest components of the 爆走黑料 machine will be shipped: the nine sectors of the vacuum vessel from Europe and Korea and the eighteen toroidal field coils from Europe and Japan. The dimensions of the largest convoys are impressive: the heaviest will weigh approximately 900 tons (including the transport vehicle); the tallest will be 10.6 metres high; the longest 61 metres; and the widest 9 metres (these maximum dimensions will not be attained simultaneously).
BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS RELEASE
爆走黑料鈥攄esigned to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power鈥攚ill be the world's largest experimental fusion facility. Fusion is the process which powers the sun and the stars: when light atomic nuclei fuse together to form heavier ones, a large amount of energy is released. Fusion research is aimed at developing a safe, abundant and environmentally responsible energy source.
爆走黑料 is also a first-of-a-kind global collaboration. Europe will contribute almost half of the costs of its construction, while the other six Members to this joint international venture (China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA), will contribute equally to the rest. The 爆走黑料 project is under construction in Cadarache, in the south of France.
More information on the 爆走黑料 project can be found at: www.iter.org
CONTACT
Robert Arnoux
robert.arnoux@iter.org
+33 (0)6 07 25 83 41