Voltim Global

Nuclear Project Transportation

Nuclear project transportation is the movement of the equipment, modules and materials needed to build a nuclear power plant from the factory or port to the construction site, in compliance with security, regulatory and documentation requirements. Voltim Global provides this service from its headquarters in Mersin, the same province as the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, combining its experience in heavy cargo transport with the hands-on site experience it has gained on the Akkuyu supply line since March 2024.

What does it take to move a 330-tonne reactor pressure vessel?

Reactor components are among the heaviest single pieces of cargo in any industry. According to World Nuclear News, a VVER-1200 reactor pressure vessel weighs around 330 tonnes and measures roughly 12 metres in length and 4.5 metres in diameter, while Rosatom's documented equipment deliveries put a VVER-1200 steam generator at approximately 340 tonnes. Loads of this class cannot move on standard trailers: they require multi-axle hydraulic modular trailers or self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs), engineered lashing and load-spreading plans, verified bridge and culvert capacities, and dedicated port handling with heavy-lift cranes or roll-on/roll-off ramps. Voltim Global plans each movement with detailed route surveys and bridge, tunnel and ramp load calculations, applying the same engineering discipline described on our oversized and heavy cargo page — extended with the documentation, security and traceability layers that nuclear projects demand.

Why does Akkuyu NPP logistics favour a Mersin-based partner?

The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant — Türkiye's first nuclear plant, comprising four VVER-1200 units with a combined capacity of 4,800 MW and expected to meet about 10 percent of the country's electricity demand — is being built at Büyükeceli in Mersin Province. Voltim Global is headquartered in the same province, and that proximity translates into practical advantages: first-hand knowledge of regional road corridors and port infrastructure on the eastern Mediterranean coast, faster mobilisation of vehicles, escorts and survey teams, and direct experience with the permit procedures of the local authorities. Voltim's Moscow office additionally supports coordination along the Russia–Türkiye supply corridor used by nuclear equipment manufacturers. For plant deliveries where every day of delay affects a construction-critical path, a partner already positioned in Mersin removes an entire layer of logistics risk.

How are security rules met for deliveries to nuclear sites?

Access to a nuclear power plant site is subject to rules set by site management, and these rules are applied rigorously on every delivery. Voltim Global plans its deliveries around them: the vehicle and driver details, documents and delivery time required by the site are confirmed before loading, and vehicles arrive in line with the plan notified to the site in advance. Cargo reaches the site with customs formalities completed and documentation in full, minimising the risk of waiting at the gate or being turned away.

Turkish regulatory framework: NDK oversight and KGM road permits

Two regulatory tracks run in parallel. On the nuclear side, deliveries to licensed facilities are subject to site rules overseen by the Turkish Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK) and to the specifications of project contractors. On the road side, Turkish road regulations cap standard vehicles at 40 tonnes gross weight and 4 metres height; large components exceeding these limits require a special permit from the General Directorate of Highways (KGM) defining the approved route, travel hours and escort arrangements. Voltim Global handles the permit application, route planning and coordination with the relevant authorities within the planning framework described on our project logistics page. The company's quality management system is certified to ISO 9001, its occupational health and safety management system to ISO 45001, its environmental management system to ISO 14001 and its supply chain security management system to ISO 28000.

How are shipments tracked along the way?

On Akkuyu shipments, every vehicle is tracked daily from the loading point to the site, and its position is reported to the client in a daily report. Situations such as waiting at the border, route changes or delays are communicated to the client in good time. The loading, customs and delivery documents for each shipment are kept on file, so information on any past shipment can be retrieved on request.

How are deliveries kept in line with the construction schedule?

Cargo that reaches the site too early or too late means waiting time and extra cost on site. Voltim Global plans delivery times together with its client: loading dates, customs clearance and site delivery are tracked on a single schedule, and the shipment sequence is adjusted whenever the programme changes. The distribution of 10 vehicles from Tarsus to the plant site in a single day in August 2026 is one example of this planning. The same approach is applied across all of the company's project cargo operations.

Key facts: nuclear power plant transportation

Reactor pressure vessel: a VVER-1200 vessel weighs about 330 tonnes, at roughly 12 m long and 4.5 m in diameter, according to World Nuclear News.
Steam generator: approximately 340 tonnes per unit, as reported in Rosatom's VVER-1200 equipment deliveries to plants under construction.
Akkuyu NPP: four VVER-1200 units totalling 4,800 MW in Mersin Province — the same province as Voltim's headquarters — expected to meet about 10 percent of Türkiye's electricity demand, according to published project figures.
Road limits: under Turkish road regulations, standard vehicles are limited to 40 tonnes gross weight and 4 m height; anything above requires a special permit from the General Directorate of Highways (KGM).
Regulatory oversight: nuclear facilities in Türkiye are supervised by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK), complementing IAEA security requirements applied at site level.

References for our work on the Akkuyu supply line are available on request. To discuss your shipments to the Akkuyu site, your heavy and out-of-gauge cargo, or a regular supply flow from Russia, contact our Mersin team.

Field experience on the Russia–Akkuyu supply line

Voltim Global works every day on the plant's routine supply flow. Since March 2024 we have completed more than 450 shipments to the Akkuyu area, cleared through Taşucu customs, over 400 of them together with our partner BG Logistics. Our Moscow office coordinates loading with Russian factories, while our Mersin team handles clearance in Taşucu and delivery to site. Over this period, volume has doubled:

around 100 shipments in 2024 and around 105 in 2025;
more than 250 shipments in the first nine months of 2026;
about two thirds of cargo on the Tuapse–Taşucu RoRo route, the rest by road via Upper Lars and Georgia, via Iran since 2026, and EU-origin equipment through Czechia and Bulgaria;
more than 100 loading points in Russia, from Moscow and St Petersburg to Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk and Barnaul;
in August 2026, together with BG Logistics, 10 trucks distributed from Tarsus to the plant site in a single day.

Routes, loading points, documents and process steps for this corridor are covered in detail on our page freight from Russia to Türkiye and the Akkuyu supply corridor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is nuclear power plant transportation and which services does it include?

Nuclear power plant transportation is the movement of the equipment, modules and materials needed to build a power plant from their place of manufacture to the construction site. In this scope, Voltim Global provides loading coordination, export and transit documents, customs clearance through contracted customs brokers (at Taşucu customs for Akkuyu shipments), daily vehicle tracking and delivery to site from a single source. Since March 2024, the company has completed more than 450 shipments to the Akkuyu area.

How do site entry procedures work at nuclear construction sites such as Akkuyu NPP?

Entry to nuclear power plant construction sites is subject to security rules set by site management; vehicle, driver and cargo details are expected to be notified in advance and documentation must be complete. Voltim Global prepares this information and documentation before loading and plans the delivery time together with its client and the site team. As a result, vehicles arrive at the site in line with the plan notified in advance.

Which equipment can be transported, such as steam generators and reactor components?

On the Akkuyu supply line, Voltim Global transports project equipment and materials from more than 100 loading points in Russia, including out-of-gauge and bulky items. Very heavy components such as the reactor pressure vessel (approximately 330 tonnes) or a steam generator require special vehicles, a route survey and a special KGM permit; for cargo of this kind, a feasibility study is carried out on a project basis.

Which documents and standards are required for nuclear project transport?

The documents required depend on the type of cargo and the route. In addition to the commercial invoice, packing list and transport documents such as the CMR or bill of lading, a transit declaration (TIR Carnet or T1) and a customs declaration in Türkiye are required; a special KGM permit is obtained for out-of-gauge cargo. For delivery to site, any documents requested by site management are prepared separately. Voltim Global's quality management system is certified to ISO 9001, its occupational health and safety management system to ISO 45001, its environmental management system to ISO 14001 and its supply chain security management system to ISO 28000, and the company holds a TIO (freight forwarding organiser) authorisation certificate issued by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.

How is pricing determined for nuclear power plant transportation?

Prices are set on a project basis; there is no fixed tariff. The main factors affecting price are the dimensions and weight of the cargo, the loading and delivery points, the route (Ro-Ro, via Georgia or via Iran), customs and permit requirements, and the delivery schedule. Once you send us your cargo details, Voltim Global prepares a quotation together with the route options.

From the guide: questions about this service

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Nuclear Project Transportation

What does it take to move a 330-tonne reactor pressure vessel?

Why does Akkuyu NPP logistics favour a Mersin-based partner?

How are security rules met for deliveries to nuclear sites?

Turkish regulatory framework: NDK oversight and KGM road permits

How are shipments tracked along the way?

How are deliveries kept in line with the construction schedule?

Key facts: nuclear power plant transportation

Field experience on the Russia–Akkuyu supply line

Frequently Asked Questions

From the guide: questions about this service

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