DHL’s Remarkable Shipping Feats of 2023: From Manatees to Wind Turbine Blades

Manatees Soleil, Calliope, and Piccolina (Photo Kathy Newton)

(IN BRIEF) DHL, the global logistics leader, showcased its extraordinary shipping accomplishments in 2023. These included flying manatees over 1,000 miles for rescue, shipping five locomotives from the USA to Peru, delivering a key to save a bird, transporting bobsleds for a winter sports event, and shipping colossal wind turbine blades from the USA to Turkey. These feats highlight DHL’s prowess in handling unique and challenging logistics scenarios.

(PRESS RELEASE) MAINZ, 12-Dec-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — When one thinks of DHL Group, the global logistics leader, images of parcels, pallets, and shipping containers readily come to mind. However, DHL’s expertise goes far beyond these conventional notions of logistics. Here are five exceptional shipping feats that marked DHL’s endeavors in 2023:

1. Manatee Rescue Across the U.S.: In October 2023, DHL undertook an extraordinary mission, flying three manatees weighing 750 to 1,000 pounds from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Orlando, Florida. Subsequently, they were transported to Tampa. These manatees, initially rescued as orphaned calves in Florida in 2021, were under the joint care of Cincinnati Zoo and ZooTampa, where they would be readied for release back into Florida’s waters. DHL’s role was pivotal in ensuring their swift and secure journey, with custom-built containers and veterinarian supervision.
2. Five Locomotives to Peru: September 2023 witnessed DHL’s maritime feat as it transported five colossal locomotives from Houston, USA, to Callao, Peru. Weighing 186 tons each and exceeding 20 meters in length, these locomotives posed a significant logistical challenge. DHL’s meticulous planning and execution ensured their successful voyage via ship through the Gulf of Mexico and the Panama Canal.
3. Swift Delivery of a Life-saving Key: In April 2023, DHL orchestrated the rapid delivery of a key, not for a conventional purpose but to save a small bird in distress. Locked in an apartment in Germany, the bird needed immediate assistance. DHL swiftly transported the key over 1,200 miles from Tunis Airport to the DHL Hub in Leipzig, Germany. The key was quickly retrieved by the traveler’s partner, who was then able to rescue the bird without the need for forced entry.
4. Bobsleds for Winter Sports: DHL’s logistical precision was put to the test in October 2023 when it delivered 21 bobsleds from Cologne, Germany, to Yanqing, China, for the IBSF Bobsleigh World Cup. These sleds, measuring approximately four meters each, were critical for athletes from various European nations. DHL ensured their safe and time-critical delivery to the Olympic sliding track in Yanqing, acknowledging the sensitivity of these finely tuned sports equipment.
5. Shipping Wind Turbine Blades: August 2023 witnessed DHL’s successful shipment of three colossal wind turbine blades, each stretching 50 meters and weighing 14 tons, from Houston, USA, to Izmir, Turkey. These blades were destined for a wind energy farm and required specialized vessels and extendable trailers for transportation.

These remarkable endeavors underscore DHL’s versatility and commitment to handling unconventional and challenging logistics with finesse, going above and beyond standard expectations.

DHL Group Media Relations

Mathias Schneider
Phone: +49 228 182-9944
E-mail: pressestelle@dhl.com

SOURCE: Deutsche Post AG