The Port of Antwerp Bruges has welcomed one of the largest pieces of project cargo handled in recent years, as a nearly 7,000 tonne process module arrived for INEOS Project ONE, marking another milestone in the construction of Europe’s largest chemical investment in more than two decades.

The heavy lift vessel Jin Xu Xiang 88 arrived in Antwerp on July 28 after sailing from Abu Dhabi with a prefabricated module measuring 55 metres in height, roughly equivalent to an 18 storey building. Weighing almost 7,000 tonnes, the module is larger than those delivered to the site during 2025 and represents one of the most demanding project cargo operations recently completed at the Belgian port.

The module was transported to support construction of the Project ONE ethane cracker, where it will become an integral part of the processing facility. Another module weighing just under 7,200 tonnes is expected to arrive during the first half of August, completing the final series of oversized deliveries required for the project.

For heavy lift specialists, these shipments illustrate the growing role of modular construction. Instead of assembling complex processing units entirely on site, engineers fabricate complete sections in specialized yards before transporting them across continents. It is rather like assembling a complex puzzle where each finished piece already contains piping, equipment and structural steel before reaching its final destination.

With the arrival of the latest module, Project ONE moves closer to completing installation of the remaining major process units. According to project developers, integrating these final components effectively completes the structural assembly of the new ethane cracker.

The facility will convert ethane into ethylene, one of the chemical industry’s most widely used building blocks. Ethylene serves as a feedstock for products ranging from medical equipment and automotive components to wind turbine blades, solar panels and insulation materials.

The scale of the modules reflects the increasing preference for offsite fabrication in large industrial developments. Manufacturing substantial sections under controlled conditions can reduce construction time, improve quality control and limit on site labor requirements, although it shifts significant complexity to transport and heavy lift logistics providers.

Ground was officially broken for Project ONE on December 15, 2022. According to INEOS, the development represents the largest investment in Europe’s chemicals sector since 2000 and is expected to create approximately 450 permanent jobs once operational.

The company also states that the new ethane cracker has been designed to reduce carbon emissions significantly compared with existing facilities. Project ONE is expected to produce around half the carbon dioxide emissions of the 10 percent least polluting ethane crackers currently operating, reflecting newer process technologies and higher energy efficiency standards.

For the Port of Antwerp Bruges, the arrival of these oversized modules highlights its continuing importance as a gateway for project cargo serving Europe’s industrial, energy and chemical sectors. Handling cargo of this scale requires careful coordination between vessel operators, terminal teams, heavy lift specialists and project engineers, demonstrating the port’s capability to support some of the continent’s largest industrial developments.

Source: Breakbulk News