Rescue journey across the United States for three manatees
In October 2023, DHL flew three manatees named „Soleil,” „Calliope,” and „Piccolina” over 1,000 miles from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Orlando, Florida, before the final leg of their journey by truck to Tampa.
Weighing between 750 to 1,000 pounds, these manatees were tiny, orphaned calves rescued by state wildlife officials in Florida in 2021.
Photo credits @ Cincinnati Zoo
Photo credits @ Zoo Tampa
Photo credits @ Zoo Tampa
The Cincinnati Zoo and ZooTampa collaborated in their care, with DHL ensuring their swift and secure transport in custom-built containers on a specially scheduled cargo plane.
The containers, equipped with 8-inch-thick foam beds and blankets, maintained optimal conditions for the manatees, overseen by a vigilant veterinarian.
Five locomotives sail from the United States to Peru
In September 2023, DHL undertook a massive maritime endeavor, transporting five pre-owned locomotives over 3,000 miles from Houston, U.S., to Callao, Peru.
Photo credits @ DHL
Purchased by a Peruvian railway company, each locomotive, exceeding 20 meters in length and weighing 186 tons, posed a logistical challenge.
Photo credits @ DHL
DHL’s planning spanned two months, involving a team of experts who calculated processes, created blueprints, and scrutinized materials.
Photo credits @ DHL
The operation saw the locomotives delicately placed on a vessel using the ship’s cranes, navigating through the Gulf of Mexico and the Panama Canal on a twelve-day journey to the Peruvian coast.
Life-Saving key expedited from Tunisia to Germany
April 2023 witnessed DHL’s swift response to a unique and time-sensitive request. A German traveler, inadvertently carrying his apartment key while on a trip to Tunisia, faced an urgent situation – a small bird in need of food and water back home.
DHL swiftly flew the key 1,200 miles from Tunis Airport to the DHL Hub in Leipzig within a few hours.
Photo credits @ DHL
A dedicated service team located the key amidst numerous shipments from Tunisia, ensuring a seamless handover to the traveler’s partner.
A grateful letter confirmed the successful outcome, allowing timely access to the bird without resorting to drastic measures.
21 Bobsleds on a journey from Germany to China
As October 2023 marked the commencement of the IBSF Bobsleigh World Cup in Yanqing, China, DHL delivered 21 bobsleds from Cologne, Germany. These finely tuned precision machines, crucial for athletes from various European nations, were transported from national bobsleigh federations to Cologne and then flown about 5,000 miles to Beijing.
Photo credits @ DHL
The final leg involved two trucks ferrying the bobsleds to the Olympic sliding track in Yanqing.
Photo credits @ DHL
With athletes training up to the last minute, the time-critical transport left no room for delays, emphasizing the delicate handling required for these specialized sports equipment.
Photo credits @ DHL
Three wind turbine blades travel from the United States to Turkey
August 2023 saw DHL undertake the transport of three colossal wind turbine blades from Houston, U.S., to Izmir, Turkey.
Photo credits @ Serkan Ergun
Each blade, measuring 50 meters in length and weighing approximately 14 tons, was destined for a Turkey-based wind energy farm.
Photo credits @ Serkan Ergun
Employing a special vessel equipped with heavy-lift cranes, DHL ensured the safe and efficient delivery of these exceptionally long cargo pieces over a 7,500-mile journey.
Photo credits @ Serkan Ergun
Upon reaching Izmir, extendable trailers took over, transporting the new blades to their final destination.
Cover photo credits @ Kathy Newton