On November 29, during the night hours, with police assistance and the use of specialized hydraulic sets, the rings were delivered to the recipient in Ożarów. Previously, they had traveled by sea from Bilbao to Gdańsk. Due to the significant dimensions of the cargo – a width exceeding that of two trucks (one ring has a diameter of 7100 mm, and the other 6900 mm), direct road transport from the port to the recipient was immediately ruled out. For this reason, a day later, the rings were reloaded onto an inland barge and began their voyage toward the quay on the Vistula. After numerous struggles with unfavorable hydrological conditions (low water levels on the Vistula), the cargo reached the next transshipment point safely and arrived at its destination on Saturday, November 29.
– The transport began on October 7, 2008 – says Monika Piotrowska, Industrial Projects Manager in the Industrial Projects Department at DHL Global Forwarding. – Within 12 days, the rings arrived by sea in Gdańsk. The further journey of the cargo also had to take place by waterway. The seven-meter diameter of the rings ruled out road and rail transport.
Unfortunately, for years, the number of days per year suitable for navigation on the Vistula has been declining. There is a lack of retention reservoirs that would allow for the regulation of the river’s level. Nevertheless, as soon as conditions allowed, the transport of the cargo picked up speed again. Both rings reached the recipient safely, without exceeding the deadline specified in the contract.