Customers don’t take the decision to send a heavyweight shipment lightly, especially given the relative expense of air cargo. It’s a growing market for Cathay Cargo, which handles many out-of-gauge or heavy shipments every year using the Cathay Expert solution. There is generally one consideration at the heart of these requests – urgency. Whether it’s an aircraft engine or plant for mining, there can be a revenue hit for companies when vital parts require sudden replacement and production slows or stops.  

Late last year, Cathay Cargo handled the boom from a massive quarry loader, weighing in at 24 tonnes. A new one was urgently needed at a mine in Australia, and each passing day was affecting production to the order of hundreds of tonnes. This was not a straightforward shipment. Due to the size and weight of this piece, it required additional support from Cathay Cargo Services team to help the shipper redesign the mount so that it evenly spread the weight out over the pallet. In the end, it took 54 straps to secure this outsized load – which only just fitted onto the main deck of the Boeing 747 freighter.

The good news for future customers who require urgent shipment of heavy cargo worldwide: a new digital development is set to streamline the process, making it faster and more efficient. This advancement reduces the decision time from the initial enquiry for outsized shipments to delivering a “yes” as a service level agreement. It also automates processes and delivers loading diagrams directly into ramp staff’s hands to save even more time. 

A new app to take the load

At the heart of this transformation is HeavyPro, the latest iteration of an app developed by the Cargo Operation Centre (COC) and Cathay’s IT teams. The COC, with its deep expertise in cargo operations, serves as the critical reviewer for all heavyweight shipment requests. Its role is to ensure that every oversized or heavy load meets stringent safety and operational standards before approval to be carried is issued.

Until fairly recently, this process was paper-based and could take a working day or so to get the decision. No more, as COC Manager Max Mak outlines. “It used to be that it took around nine hours to get back to the sales team, now we can respond in three hours, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he says.  

This isn’t just about efficiency – it’s about safety. The COC’s review process ensures that every shipment, no matter how complex, is carefully assessed for safe carriage. By leveraging technical expertise and operational insights, the COC guarantees that each load is securely planned and executed, minimising risks and maximising reliability.

“With HeavyPro, we’re not just speeding up the process, we’re reinforcing our commitment to safety,” adds Mak. 

The app both automates the calculation process, but also generates precise loading diagrams of how and where the shipment should be secured to the hold with restraint straps.