Project logistics is the end-to-end planning, engineering and execution of transport for large-scale industrial and infrastructure projects, where every component — from a 330-tonne reactor vessel to thousands of tonnes of structural steel — must reach the construction site in a contractually defined sequence. Voltim Logistics, with offices in Istanbul, Mersin and Moscow, coordinates this entire chain from a single point, from feasibility studies through to final site delivery.
How does project logistics differ from standard freight forwarding?
Standard freight forwarding moves repeatable, containerised shipments along established schedules. Project logistics, by contrast, is engineered around a construction programme: each movement is a one-off operation involving out-of-gauge dimensions, extreme weights and a fixed erection sequence, where a late arrival can idle cranes, crews and contractual milestones. The discipline therefore starts long before transport — with load analysis, route surveys and critical point identification covering bridges, tunnels, overhead lines and turning radii. Under the Turkish Highway Traffic Regulation, a road movement exceeding the general limits — 2.55 metres in width, 4 metres in height or 40 tonnes gross combination weight — requires a Special Load Transport Permit, so permit engineering is part of the plan from day one. Voltim Logistics performs this engineering feasibility — load analysis, route study and critical point identification — and executes oversized and heavy cargo moves as an integrated part of the wider project plan.
How is logistics planned under FIDIC and EPC contracts?
In EPC and turnkey projects — typically contracted under the FIDIC Silver Book, which places design and execution responsibility on the contractor — logistics failures translate directly into delay damages. Logistics planning therefore has to mirror the contract itself: delivery obligations, milestone payments and site handover dates are converted into a transport schedule with defined responsibilities at every interface. Voltim Logistics joins projects at the feasibility stage, well before mobilisation, so route studies and permit lead times can be priced into the tender. During execution, weekly progress reports, KPI and milestone tracking give the EPC contractor documentation aligned with its own employer reporting, while project cargo and erection All Risks insurance closes the risk allocation between marine transit, inland transport and on-site handling.
Why does critical path analysis matter in project cargo logistics?
Critical path analysis identifies which cargo movements directly determine the project completion date. A steam turbine, transformer or reactor component is usually a long-lead item: if it arrives late, erection stops, and every downstream activity slips with it. Logistics planners therefore classify each consignment by float — how much delay it can absorb before touching the critical path — and build buffers around the items with none. Permit approvals, vessel fixtures, seasonal road restrictions and port congestion are all mapped as schedule risks. Voltim's critical point identification and route studies feed this analysis: a longer routing that avoids a weight-restricted bridge may protect weeks of programme time. The output is a transport plan sequenced against the construction schedule rather than against transport convenience.
How is multimodal transport coordinated on a large project?
Large project components rarely move door-to-door by a single mode. A typical chain combines a heavy-lift or breakbulk vessel for the ocean leg, river barges or rail for inland corridors, and hydraulic modular trailers for the final kilometres — with engineered transhipments at each interface. The risk in multimodal operations concentrates at those interfaces: lifting plans, lashing calculations, quay strength and crane capacity must all be verified before the cargo ever ships. Voltim Logistics coordinates sea, road, river and rail combinations from a single point, plans port and rail transhipments, and integrates transit customs declarations so cargo is not held at borders between modes. Cargo classes and handling methods are described in detail on our project cargo page.
How are site delivery windows managed?
Construction sites take deliveries in windows, not at will. Laydown areas are limited, heavy-lift cranes are booked by the day, and erection crews work to a fixed sequence — so a component arriving early can be as disruptive as one arriving late. Delivery windows are agreed with the site erection team and locked into the transport schedule; oversize road convoys in Türkiye typically move at night under escort, within the route and time conditions written into each Special Load Transport Permit. On Türkiye's first nuclear power plant, Voltim provided on-site logistics coordination with heavy module transhipments, permit management and daily reporting, so the employer always knew which component would cross the gate, and when. That daily cadence — rather than weekly summaries — is what site delivery management demands.
How are nuclear and energy project components transported?
Energy projects generate the heaviest single pieces in logistics. According to World Nuclear News, the VVER-1200 reactor pressure vessel installed at Akkuyu — a plant of four units totalling 4,800 MWe, per the World Nuclear Association — weighs some 330 tonnes at 4.5 metres in diameter and 12 metres in height. Pieces of this class travel by heavy-lift vessel to a project berth and then by self-propelled modular transporters over engineered routes, with civil works wherever the ground or existing structures cannot carry the load. The same methodology scales across thermal, hydro, wind and solar projects, refinery and gas processing plant modules, mining conveyor systems, and bridge, tunnel, metro or airport segments — and to defence projects under special security protocols. Voltim's nuclear scope is presented on the nuclear project transportation page.
Key facts: project cargo logistics
- Under the Turkish Highway Traffic Regulation (Article 128), road vehicles are limited to 2.55 m width, 4.00 m height and 40 tonnes gross combination weight for five-or-more-axle combinations (44 t only for certain intermodal container combinations); loads beyond these limits require a Special Load Transport Permit for each movement.
- According to the World Nuclear Association, the Akkuyu plant comprises four VVER-1200 units totalling 4,800 MWe and is expected to meet about 10% of Türkiye's electricity needs.
- World Nuclear News reports that the VVER-1200 reactor pressure vessel installed at Akkuyu unit 1 weighs 330 tonnes, measuring 4.5 m in diameter and 12 m in height.
- According to the IAEA, construction of Akkuyu unit 1 — Türkiye's first nuclear power plant — began in April 2018.
- The FIDIC Silver Book is the international standard contract form for EPC/turnkey projects, placing design, execution and schedule responsibility on the contractor — the framework within which project logistics plans are drafted.
If you are preparing an EPC tender or need a logistics plan for an energy, industrial or infrastructure project, contact Voltim Logistics for an engineering feasibility study and a detailed project quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is project logistics and which projects does it cover?
How is the project logistics process managed?
Which transport modes are used for project cargo?
Which documents and permits are required in project logistics?
How is project logistics pricing determined?
Other Services
Voltim's complete end-to-end logistics solutions
Sea Freight
FCL and LCL sea freight at competitive rates with regular sailings on all major port routes.
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Road Transport
TIR and groupage road logistics across Turkey, Europe and Central Asia — GPS-tracked fleet and ADR-certified vehicles.
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Customs Brokerage
Licensed customs brokerage for import, export and transit declarations at all Turkish customs gates.
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Warehousing & Distribution
Climate-controlled, secure warehousing with cross-docking, pick-pack and WMS-integrated end-to-end distribution.
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Logistics Insurance
All Risks marine, CMR, warehouse, project cargo and valuable cargo insurance — international coverage at every stage of logistics.
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Project Cargo
End-to-end management of heavy, oversized and special equipment cargo — feasibility, permits, transport and assembly coordination.
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Cold Chain Logistics
GDP-certified end-to-end cold chain logistics for pharmaceuticals, food and sensitive products — temperature-controlled operations.
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Hazardous Materials (ADR)
ADR-certified dangerous goods transport (Class 1-9) — specialised vehicles, trained drivers and risk management.
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Real-Time Tracking
Track your cargo at every stage with GPS, IoT and a digital portal — 24/7 visibility.
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Import Customs Clearance
Import declarations, HS code classification, customs lane tracking and inspection management at every Turkish gate.
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Export Customs Clearance
Export declarations, ATR, EUR.1 origin certificates and VAT refund — full export operations support.
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Transit Customs
TIR carnet, NCTS T1/T2 transit declarations and ATA carnet — Europe-Turkey-CIS transit operations.
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Bonded Warehouse Operations
Bonded warehouse types A, B, C, E, free-zone and customs-bonded storage with handling and inward-processing operations.
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Trade Regulatory Consulting
HS code, product requirements, trade agreements, control lists and sanctions compliance — sector-specific trade consulting.
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Tax & Exemptions
Inward processing, VAT refund and tariff exemption management — tax optimisation and correction processes.
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Digital Customs
BILGE, NCTS, EDI and ERP integration for fast, traceable, error-free digital customs operations.
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Marine Cargo (All Risks) Insurance
All Risks (ICC A) marine cargo insurance — damage, loss, theft and natural disaster coverage in sea and road transport.
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CMR Insurance
CMR carrier-liability insurance for international road transport — 8.33 SDR/kg limit, with delay and special clauses.
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Warehouse Insurance
Comprehensive coverage for stocks in bonded and standard warehouses — fire, flood, earthquake, theft and electrical fault.
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Project Cargo Insurance
DSU, ALOP, EAR-clause project cargo insurance for industrial projects, power plants and wind turbines — risk-engineered.
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International Transport Insurance
Single-policy All Risks coverage for multimodal sea-and-road shipments — open cover annual policies and door-to-door protection.
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Valuable Cargo Insurance
All Risks insurance with expert valuation and escort support for art, antiques, precious metals and high-value electronics.
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Insurance Policy Management
Centralised digital platform for all your insurance policies — renewal alerts, claims tracking and premium analytics.
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International Road Freight
Full and partial truckload services between Turkey, Europe, Russia and CIS countries.
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Full Truckload (FTL)
Direct, scheduled delivery of single-customer loads to the consignee location.
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Less Than Truckload (LTL)
Economic, scheduled and controlled groupage services for small-volume shipments.
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Oversized & Heavy Cargo
Special permits, route planning and escort organisation across the entire process.
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Nuclear Project Transportation
Site access, vehicle tracking and delivery management for high-precision projects.
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Container Transportation
Container operations between ports, warehouses, factories and project sites.
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Bonded & Transit Transport
Support for T1 organisation, guarantee and document coordination processes.
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Port and Site Delivery
Secure delivery from ports to warehouses, bonded warehouses, factories or project sites.
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Crane & Forklift Operations
Equipment-supported organisation for loading, unloading and on-site operations.
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Daily Vehicle Tracking & Reporting
Vehicle position tracking and regular client communication throughout the shipment.
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Door-to-Door Delivery
End-to-end management from pickup point to final delivery address.
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