Heavy-Lift and Logistics specialist Rohde & Liesenfeld (USA) undertook the task to deliver James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) for NASA.

To ensure all eventualities were considered for this US $10 billion sensitive cargo, they partnered with specialist naval engineering and heavy-Lift firm Nordholm Companies Inc. of Everett Washington. Nordholm was chosen based on “Industry Specific Referrals, Prior Experience, and Creativity.

The partners created a detailed route survey and identified potential locations to dock and receive cargo.

Upon arrival at the Seal Beach CA dock, the 300-ton JWST had to be transferred from the pier into the heavy haul Cargo Ship MD Colibri.

The Colibri is comprised of a watertight garage the size of a football field and was specifically designed to transport sensitive Aerospace components.  The designed transfer procedure had to avoid the slightest vibration when moving the precious cargo.  As a result, the team designed an ingenious solution that involved building a floating bridge, connecting the MD Colibri with the shore.  The design comprised a stationary spud barge with legs extending down to the seabed, combined with a flat deck floating barge connected to the pier with custom-designed steel bridge ramps.  The Spud barge was used to stabilize the floating barge during a series of rotations that were needed to transfer the cargo from the pier to the floating barge and then from the floating barge to the MD Colibri.

Additionally, Nordholm designed the sea-fastenings of the cargo for the ocean voyage from California to the rocket site in French Guiana.