In the early hours of October 19, engineers moved a 3,400‑metric‑ton steel arch, 156 m long and over 20 m high, onto a heavy‑duty barge on the Saigon River. The operation highlights the complex logistics behind transporting massive bridge parts.

A fleet of 30 self‑propelled modular transporters, each able to rotate 360°, carried the arch in short increments. This step‑by‑step movement let engineers constantly check elevation, inclination and the barge’s response, spreading the load evenly.

The barge can hold up to 14,000 metric tons and is equipped with 40 ballast pumps that together move 2,000 m³ of water. Together with winches and an eight‑point anchoring system, the pumps adjust the vessel’s draft and keep it balanced while the arch is loaded.

Engineers tightened the anchoring cable assemblies that link the arch to fixed hooks on the deck, then planned a joint inspection of the whole system. The transfer was scheduled for a favourable tidal window, when water levels were expected to be between 3 m and 3.9 m, and it ran from 10 pm to 6 am.

During the loading, Saigon River traffic was temporarily stopped on October 19, 21 and 22 to ensure safety. The careful coordination of transporters, ballast control and timing demonstrates how massive structures can be moved safely across water.