GT USA Wilmington welcomed the MV POTTERSGRACHT, a general cargo ship, with its load of 78 wind turbine blades. The blades, manufactured in Canada are destined for a GE project in West Virginia. 

Exhibiting the diversity of cargo handling capabilities, the Port of Wilmington carefully and successfully discharged the wind turbine blades, that are over 200 feet in length and weigh more than 13.5 tons each and transported them the short distance to the on-port storage area. 

MV POTTERSGRACHT unloading wind turbine blades at the Port of Wilmington
MV POTTERSGRACHT unloading wind turbine blades at the Port of Wilmington

“We have handled wind blades many times now at the Port of Wilmington, but we never take anything for granted. It is always a delicate operation when handling cargo of this size and weight, so we work diligently with our International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) partners, the vessel’s crew and the trucking company, American Transport Systems.” said Joe Cruise, Chief Executive Officer at GT USA Wilmington. 

The MV POTTERSGRACHT is returning to the Port of Gaspe, Quebec, Canada where she will take on another 75 wind turbine blades destined for Wilmington in late May/early June. 

The Port of Wilmington is one of the United States’ primary gateways for fresh fruits. Its 2021-2022 winter fruit season is well under way and imports are regularly in bound from Morocco and Chile. The Port has worked hard to put itself in a good position to take advantage of new business from all over the world due to the supply chain crisis. The work has been rewarded with an increase in throughput of cargoes such as juices, rice, lumber and plywood and now wind blades.