HISTORY was made when commercial shipping returned to Clackmannanshire for the first time in some 60 years.

Following 18 months of detailed planning, a complex operation saw the Terra Marique deliver a 187-tonne cold box, measuring 57.6 metres in length, for an air separation plant by O-I Glassworks in Alloa.

It was a snug fit as the unique vessel, accompanied by tugs Coastworker and Shoalbuster, transited under the Kincardine and Clackmannanshire bridges to make the first of five deliveries on Wednesday, May 3.

The cold box and storage tanks still to come will serve an air separation plant, to be operated by Air Products, which was approved by Clacks Council last November.

Des Nott, project manager at logistics company Kestrel which orchestrated the delivery, told the Advertiser: “The issue is that it's effectively a lifetime since anybody managed a commercial vessel transit in the region and have had no up to date maps or charts – we had to make them ourselves.”

Having to sail under the two bridges was a significant challenge with the vessels having to hit a five-minute time window in both directions but Des said he had the “best hands on the job”.

The unloading operation was also complex with a small quay developed at the site, ramps put in place to cover the gap, the cold box unloaded, all broken down and back to the bridges to again hit a five-minute window of opportunity to sail under.

Des and the team carried out surveys of the river across the last 18 months to make it all happen, road delivery having been ruled out.

It was the first of five deliveries to the site with large storage tanks to follow in the coming days and weeks.

Des said: “This has been a challenge, from the first execution we've learnt a lot about what to expect and what not to expect.

“What we do know to expect is if we do it again tomorrow, it's going to be different again, just by the way and the speed the river flows in that part.”

All in all, the operation far up the Forth was a challenge in planning, navigation and across all disciplines but contingencies were in place to ensure safe passage with the first piece “delivered perfectly”.

Speaking of the "unique" Terra Marique, Des added: “Some call it a barge, some call it a ship – it's more or less a hybrid, there is only one in the country of her type.”