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The Céphée, a unique inland vessel built in France in 1937, was purchased by the Friends of the National Maritime Museum in 1984 and donated to the city of Antwerp. When the museum closed, the ship had to be moved to the Dry Docks. The Céphée is now part of the MAS collection.
We started with the engineering and construction aspects, designing and building a supporting steel frame around the vessel. A wooden frame was also installed inside the ship to provide additional support. These frames, both steel and wood, were then ordered, assembled and installed by mid-February 2023.
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Preparations for the transport included the demolition of a concrete wall, the removal of protective fencing and street furniture, as well as the façade of a warehouse. Steel plates were also installed for smooth transportation, and an application for a transportation permit was submitted. In addition, the road was closed and the tram tracks disconnected.
The Céphée was lifted using SCJ50 jacks and 12 axle lines of K25 Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMT). Meticulous preparations took place to ensure safe transportation. The inland vessel was transported at night, when the Céphée was moved to its new location at the Dry Docks site. The ship was then positioned in front of the new building and lowered onto the jack system. The SPMTs were removed and the vessel placed on wheel sets.
During the last step, its final resting place, the Céphée was pushed into the new building and lowered onto the concrete floor. The entire operation was rigorously planned and executed to ensure the safe and efficient movement of the Céphée, preserving this piece of maritime heritage for future generations.
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