Summary of Gigantic Overseas Autoliner | Mega Transports | Free Documentary

00:00:00 - 00:45:00

The "Gigantic Overseas Autoliner" is a documentary about the Trapper, the world's largest automobile transporter. The loading process is a daunting task with around 10,000 cars and other heavy cargoes that need to move through the same door with limited space and time. Despite the challenges, the crew manages to park 1,000 cars ahead of schedule, and hundreds of tons of high and heavy cargo make their way onto the deck before departure. The crew navigates the Trapper through the Panama Canal, maneuvering carefully through the narrow confines of the canal. The journey takes nine hours and saves the ship three weeks of travel time, and after over 28,000 kilometers, the Trapper safely arrives at its first port in Auckland, New Zealand. Thanks to the meticulous planning of the unflappable port captain and the dedication of the dock workers, thousands of new cars and hundreds of the heaviest vehicles find their way to new owners, making this mega transport possible.

• 00:00:00 In this section, we learn about the trapper, the world's largest automobile transporter, and the enormous task of transporting about 10,000 cars and other heavy cargo across multiple continents. The trapper has over 71,000 square meters of cargo area, offering enough space for 8,500 cars. However, the loading process is not simple, with the cargo having to move through the same door with limited space and time. Pere Henningsen, the port captain, is responsible for planning and executing the mammoth task. The loading process involves 20 port workers and a scanning system to ensure that each vehicle is registered and ready for the transport. The task is daunting, and any mistake in the process could result in a significant loss of time and resources.
• 00:05:00 In this section of the documentary, we see Dimitri Golemon, the foreman in charge of making sure that cars get to their assigned spots in the loading zones for Port Kembla in Australia and Auckland in New Zealand. Dimitri's job requires a permanent balancing act between speed and precision, as the time pressure is immense but space in the zones is limited. The lashing crew secures every car with special straps to prevent potential dents and keep valuable freight from rocking during the voyage. However, Dimitri's biggest worry is the possibility of someone getting hurt during the parking process. Despite last-minute changes and challenges, Dimitri and his team of stevedores manage to park 1,000 cars in their proper positions, an hour ahead of the planned schedule.
• 00:10:00 In this section, we see the crew of the world's largest vehicle transporter, the Trapper, prepare for its journey around the world, which includes transporting cars and high and heavy cargo. The Trapper is capable of accommodating monstrous machinery, thanks to its special flexible decks with adjustable heights. The Trapper's journey around the world involves crossing inland waters, covering a distance of 500 kilometers along the coast of Holland and Germany, making stops at parking facilities that can house 95,000 cars, as well as dealing with tractors, giant construction machines, and trucks. The 14 decks of the Trapper include five that can be adjusted in height to accommodate machinery of various sizes.
• 00:15:00 In this section of the video, the chief officer is responsible for making technical adjustments to the cargo area to ensure that several large trucks can fit in Deck 8. To load high and heavy cargo, they needed to double the height of the deck from 2.3 meters to 4.2 meters, and this was accomplished by manually pushing up each of the deck panels using a hoist. After an hour of work, the entire deck is almost twice as high as it was before. The concept is that stevedores then drive each of the hundred trucks to its planned space, fastened down and done. However, they face issues when dealing with a 21-ton agricultural machine on Deck 3 as it is blocking the access ramp to the deck. Marshall Pere and his team come up with a plan to use rubber mats to remove the machine without damaging it.
• 00:20:00 In this section, we see the challenges faced by the team in loading an oversized dump truck bucket onto the ship. With only two hours left until departure, the cargo area is full and the cargo deck is already at maximum capacity. The team uses wooden slats to prop up the 20-ton Colossus and successfully moves it to the cargo area. Despite continuing adversities, hundreds of tons of high and heavy cargo loads make their way onto the deck, including construction machines, cranes, and excavators. Pair and his stevedores manage to load 2,000 new vehicles, 200 high and heavy units, and the oversized dump truck bucket onto the ship before departure, completing their mission.
• 00:25:00 In this section, the focus is on the challenges of transporting huge cargoes, such as a 280-meter-long autoliner with a capacity of 8,500 cars. Loading and unloading continue as the ship travels from Europe to New Zealand, passing through the Panama Canal, where the crew faces a significant risk from bad weather. The cargo, worth several hundred million euros, requires special attention to ensure that it is securely lashed, as even slight vibrations or loosenings can cause damage. The crew's task is to keep a keen eye on every car and maintain the necessary lashing tension for the journey, including setting additional shocks to keep the cars from moving, which takes several hours to complete.
• 00:30:00 In this section, we see the trapper, a gigantic overseas autoliner, preparing to traverse the Panama Canal. The narrow confines of the canal cause concern for the captain as any deviation from the scheduled transit could cause a major backup. However, with the help of local support and a specialized team, the trapper prepares to pass through the canal's three lock chambers. The captain and pilot must position the ship perfectly in the middle of the lock chambers, and the ship must be maneuvered manually throughout the transit. Despite the difficulties, the trapper successfully makes it through the canal and onto the Pacific Ocean.
• 00:35:00 In this section, the video discusses the final lock chamber of the Panama Canal where the captain and pilot must have razor-sharp concentration to guide the 200-meter-long mega transport out of the narrow lock system and into the canal unscathed. The trapper has raised nine meters after the first lock and 18 meters after the second lock, and now the third and final lock chamber must be passed through for the ship to safely reach the Panama Canal. The trapper must be brought out of the lock in as straight a line as possible, and tugboats must be used to guide the ship. The cost of a single passage for a mega transport like the trapper can reach up to €400,000.
• 00:40:00 In this section, we witness the Trapper, a gigantic overseas autoliner, traversing the Panama Canal, which saves the ship an impressive three weeks of travel time. The journey through the canal takes nine hours and is a special event for Captain Su, who expresses his excitement at having a successful and cooperative experience with the canal pilots. The Trapper is set to reach Australia and New Zealand in three weeks, but before that, the ship and its crew must undergo a final inspection to ensure that no insects are on board, which could result in authorities prohibiting the crew from delivering thousands of cars.
• 00:45:00 In this section, we learn about the final chapter of the mega transport of the world's biggest autoliner, which has traveled over 28,000 kilometers to arrive at its first port in Auckland, New Zealand. Despite criticism about the cleanliness of the cooks, the official food inspectors are satisfied with the ship's compliance with New Zealand's strict quarantine regulations, ensuring every grain of rice is accounted for. Thanks to the meticulous planning of the unflappable port captain and the dedication of the dock workers, thousands of new cars and hundreds of the heaviest vehicles will find their way to new owners, making this mega transport possible.