Special Shipment from the Port of La Spezia: LSCT Handles a Fire Department Helicopter Bound for Houston

A general cargo operation was successfully completed at the La Spezia terminal of the Contship Group

In recent days, the Port of La Spezia welcomed “Nuvola Rossa,” an Erickson S-64F helicopter from the fleet of the Fire Department, Public Rescue, and Civil Defense. After taking off from Pisa, the helicopter landed at LSCT’s Molo Garibaldi, ready for loading onto the BBC Virginia, bound for Houston, Texas, for maintenance and safety system upgrades.

Immediately after landing, operations began to secure the aircraft and disassemble bulky parts—blades, rotors, and spare components—which were then stored in a 40-foot container.

The operation required careful planning of the landing while meeting all Safety and Security requirements. A dedicated area on the dock was identified for landing, with 24/7 security and assistance provided for disassembly before loading with a mobile dock crane.

“The technical and operational coordination by the LSCT Team with all partners involved—including clients Impreport, Hugo Trumpy, and the Saimare agency handling customs—was crucial to the success of the operation,” explained Alessandro Pellegri, COO of LSCT. “The stowage plan was also a key activity given the high-value cargo: in addition to the helicopter and container, metal pipes totaling 3,100 tons and two yachts were loaded on deck. On a single ship, we managed three different types of general cargo, ensuring everything was stowed correctly and safely.”

Nuvola Rossa (I-CFAJ) is the third helicopter from the Fire Department to pass through the Port of La Spezia for inspection and maintenance procedures. Its predecessors, “Geronimo” and “Toro Seduto,” underwent similar processes in 2020 and 2022 respectively.

After completing all stowage and safety operations, the ship departed on April 4th for Houston.