Third Japanese magnet coil arrives

In the early hours of 12 March 2021, toroidal field coil #8 (TF8) from Japan reaches the ITER site.

12 March 2021

Crossing through Provence

A 360-tonne toroidal field coil—TF8 from Japan—crosses Provence along the ITER Itinerary on its way to the ITER campus. It is expected on site on 12 March.

09 March 2021

Toroidal field coil #8 arriving

Toroidal field coil #8 is offloaded at Fos-sur-Mer after a long sea voyage from Japan. This is the third Japanese coil to travel to ITER.

15 February 2021

Travelling by night

ITER component convoys travel by night in order to minimize the disturbance to the local communities. Fifty convoys out of an expected 250 have travelled the Itinerary to date. (Pictured: a magnet feeder component from China.)

04 February 2021

Feeder components travel by barge

Magnet feeder components shipped by China and destined for ITER transit by barge across the inland sea of Berre to the starting point of the ITER Itinerary. (Read more about the Itinerary here: https://www.iter.org/newsline/-/3559.)

01 February 2021

Each transport operation is unique

A convoy along the ITER Itinerary is never routine... Moments before this convoy departs with segments of the ITER cryostat top lid, a final team meeting brings together the drivers, the technical operators and the security forces to review the specifics of the operation.

28 January 2021

Japan prepares to ship toroidal field coil #8

ITER toroidal field coil #8 has arrived at Kobe port from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and is being prepared for ocean transport. This is the third toroidal field coil completed by Japan out of nine that it has procurement responsibility for.

12 January 2021

Cryostat lid segments arriving

Several segments of the cryostat lid, including the central disk, are travelling now along the ITER Itinerary. These components left India late last year.

11 January 2021

An early morning arrival

A 360-tonne toroidal field coil (TF5, from Europe) arrives in the early hours of 18 December.

18 December 2020

European coil travelling

European magnet coil TF5 leaves the staging area at Berre l'Etang to start on the ITER Itinerary. The 360-tonne component, tightly wrapped in protective material, is supported by a sturdy 80-tonne transport frame.

14 December 2020

Not a light load

A 360-tonne ITER magnet (toroidal field coil #5) is loaded on board a ship in Italy for transport to Marseille's port of Fos. This will be the third toroidal field magnet delivered by Europe and the fifth (out of 19) received by ITER overall.

04 December 2020

Feeder component leaving China

Transporters find a way to pack another unwieldly ITER component for international travel by sea. This correction coil feeder component, leaving China, will be installed at the bottom of the ITER machine as part of the feeder system that carries cooling fluid and electricity into the magnets.

02 December 2020

Third European toroidal field coil travelling

The third toroidal field coil to be finalized by European contractor SIMIC (TF05) leaves the factory in Marghera, Italy, on 20 November and is expected on site at ITER in mid-December.

19 November 2020

New thermal shield sectors

Each vacuum vessel sector requires it own thermal shield. Mid-November, thermal shield panels for vacuum vessel sector #1 (VV#1) successfully crossed the inland sea Berre in the south of France and started on the ITER Itinerary to reach the site.

18 November 2020

Clamping plates leave China

Clamping plates for ITER's sixth poloidal field coil (PF6) are leaving Chinese manufacturer HTXL. These actively cooled plates will hold the coil in position on the broader toroidal field coil structure. More at: https://www.iter.org/fr/newsline/-/3239

05 November 2020

Cryostat top lid segments reach France

Five cryostat lid segments (out of 12) have reached France from India. The will be assembled into the final 665-tonne section of the ITER cryostat in the on-site Cryostat Workshop.

21 September 2020

Feeder elements arrive from China

On 10 September, two large high-tech components are delivered for the magnet feeder system—one in-cryostat feeder for a bottom correction coil and one feeder ring for a side correction coil.

10 September 2020

Top lid segments reach France

A portion of the cryostat top lid elements have arrived in Fos-sur-Mer from India.

09 September 2020

Thermal shield sections from Korea

Thermal shield panels for vacuum vessel sector #5 are transported by barge on their way to ITER. All vacuum vessel thermal shielding has been completed by Korea and is arriving by batch.

03 September 2020

First night along the Itinerary for European coil TF11

A 360-tonne superconducting coil—toroidal field coil #11, from Europe—starts on one leg of the ITER Itinerary on 31 August. Large ITER convoys like this one travel by night to minimize disturbance along local roadways.

31 August 2020

ITER D-shaped magnet on the road

After crossing the inland sea Berre by barge, European coil TF11 was transferred to the modular transporter and tied down. It will begin its slow ride to ITER this week.

29 August 2020

Top lid leaves India

On 19 August 2020, the 13 segments of the cryostat top lid were loaded onto a vessel at Hazira port (one segment is pictured). ITER machine assembly begins and ends with the cryostat—the base is inserted first; the top lid is inserted last.

19 August 2020

First vacuum vessel sector to travel along the Itinerary

The transport of an ITER vacuum vessel sector (a load of 800 tonnes including housing and vehicle) is at the upper limit of what is possible in terms of weight and dimensions along the ITER Itinerary. In this picture, vacuum vessel sector #6 (manufactured in Korea) is shown moving through a narrow passage just a few kilometres from ITER.

06 August 2020

Fourth D-shaped coil on its way

The European Domestic Agency is ready to deliver another toroidal field coil to the ITER Organization. In this picture, the 360-tonne, D-shaped coil (TF11) is being loaded onto a ship in the port of Marghera, near Venice, Italy.

03 August 2020

First vacuum vessel sector reaches France

Vacuum vessel sector #6, shipped by Korea, reaches Fos-sur-Mer, France, on 21 July and is unloaded the following day. This 440-tonne component, which was more than 10 years in the making, will now travel along a special road itinerary to reach the ITER site.

22 July 2020

More feeder elements from China

Magnet feeder elements continue to arrive from China. Two in-cryostat feeders for the side and bottom correction coils, which arrived in France on 7 July, need to be installed in the Tokamak pit early in the machine assembly process.

09 July 2020

Third toroidal field coil arrives at ITER

Three 360-tonne, D-shaped toroidal field coils have been received since April 2020--TF9 from Europe, TF12 from Japan, and now TF 13, also from Japan. The two Japanese coils will enter into the first sub-assembly of the vacuum vessel, in association with vacuum vessel sector #6 from Korea, expected later this month in France. Nineteen toroidal field coils in all are under construction.

01 July 2020

Arrival on site of poloidal field coil #6

After four nights on the ITER Itinerary, poloidal field coil #6 (PF6) is delivered to the ITER site. Procured by Europe and manufactured in China, PF6 will be the first ITER magnet lowered into the machine assembly pit.

26 June 2020

First sector leaving Korea

Wrapped tightly and protected in casing, vacuum vessel sector #6 is loaded on board an oceangoing vessel on 26 June 2020.

26 June 2020

The widest ITER load

Poloidal field coil #6 (PF6) is the widest load planned for travel along the ITER Itinerary—11.5 metres (with its transport frame). Special modifications were necessary (see https://www.iter.org/newsline/-/3081).

22 June 2020

Vacuum vessel sector #6: ready to ship

At Hyundai Heavy Industries' plant in Ulsan, ITER's first completed vacuum vessel sector, #6, is packed for international shipment.

19 June 2020

Magnets-en-Provence

Two ITER magnets are stored in Berre l'Etang, waiting for transport along the ITER Itinerary to the site in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance: poloidal field coil #6 (left) which has travelled from China, and toroidal field coil #13 (right), which has travelled from Japan. The components weigh 400 and 360 tonnes respectively.

18 June 2020

Second Japanese coil reaches France

Carefully ensconced in its transport frame, toroidal field coil #13 (TF13) is unloaded at Fos-sur-Mer, France. A few days more, and it will be at ITER.

13 June 2020

PF6 coil: on the way

Poloidal field coil #6 (PF6), transport frame and trailer make a load weighing close to 800 tonnes. Photo: DAHER

12 June 2020

First, by barge

Poloidal field coil #6 (PF6), procured by Europe and manufactured in China, is loaded onto a specially conceived barge at Fos-sur-Mer to cross the inland sea of Berre. The package that contains PF6 is 12 metres long, 11 metres wide and a little more than 4 metres high.

10 June 2020

Heaviest ITER coil: at ITER soon

At 400 tonnes, poloidal field coil #6 (PF6) is the heaviest ITER magnet. After a one month sea voyage from China, it arrived at Fos-sur-Mer on 8 June.

08 June 2020

Magnet inner core leaves ASG Superconductors (Italy)

The 110-tonne inner core of an ITER toroidal field coil leaves ASG Superconductors' La Spezia facility for transport to Marghera (Venice), where European contractor SIMIC will carry out the next steps of magnet assembly.

06 June 2020

Second D-shaped coil leaves Japan

Toroidal field coil #13 (TF13) sails from Kobe harbour in Japan on 15 May 2020 and is expected reach France in mid-June. It will be associated with vacuum vessel #6 (from Korea) and another toroidal field coil (#12) in the first "sector sub assembly" of the ITER machine.

15 May 2020

Part of the trip by barge

Part of a major assembly tool (the lower column of the in-pit column tool) has arrived in France and will travel next week along the ITER Itinerary. First, though, the component is delivered by barge to Berre-l'Etang.

13 May 2020

Curved feeder segments ready to travel

Two giant feeder elements--which will be installed under the machine to relay electrical power and cryogens to the correction coils--leave the factory in China. Thirty-one feeders, each made up of three constitutive parts, will service the four superconducting magnet systems of the ITER machine.

29 April 2020

Second magnet coil reaches ITER

The first toroidal field coil manufactured in Japan arrives at the ITER site in the early hours of 25 April 2020. Two D-shaped toroidal field coils are now on site; the others will arrive according to machine assembly needs over the next three years.

25 April 2020

First magnet coil reaches ITER

The first toroidal field coil manufactured in Europe travels the last leg of the ITER Itinerary, reaching the ITER site in the early hours of 17 April. The specialized transport vehicle will now be sent back to Port de la Pointe (Berre l'Etang) to pick up a second toroidal field coil—this one recently arrived from Japan.

17 April 2020

Exceptional

Two D-shaped toroidal field coils—one procured for the ITER Project by Japan, the other by Europe—have been unloaded on the northeastern shore of the inland sea Etang de Berre, at Port de la Pointe. One after the other, they will soon commence their 104-kilometre, four-night journey to the ITER site.

10 April 2020

Clear sailing

An ITER magnet—toroidal field coil #12 produced in Japan—is seen on a barge as it crosses the inland sea Etang de Berre.

10 April 2020

Electrotechnical equipment leaves Russia

The Russian Domestic Agency is sending the latest batch of electrotechnical equipment to ITER in ten tractor trailers. Six will leave first for the 3,000-kilometre journey to France; four others will leave later this month.

07 April 2020

Japan's first toroidal field coil reaches France

One month to the day after it left the port of Kobe, the first toroidal field coil sent by Japan arrives in Fos-sur-Mer on the "UHL Fusion" on 7 April.

07 April 2020

Another large assembly tool from Korea

A massive, tree-like assembly tool—formed of a trunk and branch-like beams—will support the vacuum vessel sectors at ITER while they are welded. One part of the central column (the lower cylinder) has arrived in France from Korea.

28 March 2020

Getting closer: Europe's first toroidal field coil

Procured by Europe and finalized in Italy, toroidal field coil #9 (TF9) is seen here as it approaches the narrow Caronte Canal in Martigues. France. The massive load (600 tonnes) will reach the ITER site in the early morning of 17 April. Photo DAHER

23 March 2020

ITER magnet leaves China

A 400-tonne poloidal field magnet leaves Hefei, China, on 22 March for transport to port and a sea voyage to France. Poloidal field coil #6 (PF6) was manufactured at the Institute of Plasma Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) on behalf of contributing party Fusion for Energy, the European Domestic Agency.

22 March 2020

Europe ships its first D-shaped coil

The European Domestic Agency has shipped the first toroidal field coil of an industrial procurement program that has involved 700 people (40 companies) over 10 years. This first D-shaped coil—of 10 that are in production in Europe—was unloaded at the port of Fos-sur-Mer, France, on 19 March.

19 March 2020

First D-shaped coil: floating

ITER's first toroidal field coil is about to embark on a month-long voyage from the port of Kobe, Japan, to Fos-sur-Mer, France. Component and packaging together weigh nearly 500 tonnes.

28 February 2020

Second set of thermal shielding

Thermal shielding around the vacuum vessel will minimize heat loads transferred by thermal radiation and conduction from warm components to the components and structures that operate at 4.5K. The thermal shield elements for ITER's second vacuum vessel sector (sector #7) arrived in Fos-sur-Mer, France, in early February.

03 February 2020

Night transport

A D-shaped toroidal field winding pack leaves the ASG Superconductors factory in La Spezia, Italy, to be transported to SIMIC S.p.a for insertion into the steel casing. European contractors are producing 10 toroidal field winding packs (out of 19) for ITER.

10 December 2019

Arriving next at ITER

Shipped by China, these large in-cryostat feeders will be installed under the machine as the last link of 30- to 50-metre long magnet feeders that relay cryogens and electrical power into the ITER magnets.

02 December 2019

Assembly support frames arriving

These frames will support panels of thermal shielding as they are aligned and installed on the vacuum vessel sectors. The transport vehicles have been backed onto a barge in order to cross the inland sea Etang de Berre; they will arrive by road at ITER next week.

27 November 2019

Vacuum vessel thermal shield loaded in Korea

The thermal shield for ITER's first vacuum vessel sector (sector #6) is loaded onto an ocean going vessel in Busan, Korea, on 14 September. (One load hangs suspended by the crane; another waits on the quay.) The loads are expected at ITER in October.

14 September 2019

First thermal shield segments on their way from Korea

Elements of the ITER thermal shield—steel panels coated with low-emissivity silver to protect "cold" components such as the superconducting magnets from thermal radiation—are on their way from Korea. The cylindrical-shaped lower cryostat thermal shield (50 tonnes) and one sector of vacuum vessel thermal shield (43) are expected in September at ITER.

01 September 2019

Korea ships "upending" tool

The main frames of a specialized assembly tool weighing 220 tonnes are loaded on board a vessel departing the port of Ulsan in Korea. Tool is designed to raise components weighing up to 450 tonnes from horizontal to upright and will be needed for some of ITER's first major machine assembly activities next year.

29 August 2019

Coming from China: magnet feeder components

These large semi-circular components leaving China are part of magnet feeders that will transport cryogens and electrical power to the bottom correction coil magnets. Designed by ASIPP for the Chinese Domestic Agency and manufactured by the Hefei KEYE Electro Physical Equipment Company, these feeder sections are destined for installation inside the cryostat, connecting directly to the magnets. They are expected at ITER in September.

02 August 2019

Feeder segment leaves factory in China

This feeder segment (an in-cryostat feeder) will sit under the machine to connect a bottom correction coil to its supply of electricity, cryogens and instrumentation. It is one of 100 large feeder components that will make their way from China to ITER in the coming years.

22 July 2019

"Control house" ships from India

This 23-metre-long E-house contains the variable frequency drives, HVAC units and electric panels needed to control ITER cooling water equipment like pumps and valves. It shipped from Hazira Port on 8 June.

21 June 2019

Testing the transport frame for poloidal magnet #6

This massive frame has been designed to support a 400-tonne component—ITER poloidal field coil #6, which is a European contribution that is being manufactured in China. Load testing is underway, before the component travels later this year from Hefei, China, to the ITER site in France.

20 June 2019

Indian cryostat segments have reached Fos-sur-Mer port

Sixty degree segments of the ITER cryostat (upper cylinder) are being offloaded in Fos-sur-Mer, France, after a long sea voyage from India.

10 May 2019

Thermal shield segments packed for delivery in Korea

The first finalized sector of the vacuum vessel thermal shield has been packed for shipment at SFA Engineering Corp in Changwon, Korea. The thermal shield panels will be mounted on vacuum vessel sector #6 during pre-assembly activities at ITER.

07 May 2019

Upper cryostat cylinder on the move

A segment of the cryostat upper cylinder leaves the Larsen & Toubro factory in Hazira, India, for the port. In one month the component and five others like it will have reached ITER.

18 April 2019

Elements of central solenoid support structure arriving

Elements of the central solenoid support structure—lower key blocks—are loaded at Petersen Inc. in Ogden, Utah (US) for delivery to ITER.

04 March 2019

2,000 km: through eight canals, four tunnels and 250 locks

For this cryogenic termination cold box to reach ITER from Switzerland, it must travel 2,000 km through the waterways of Europe under the guidance of ITER's logistics transporter DAHER and its contractor Compagnie Fluviale de Transport.

15 February 2019

At home in the cold

A 63-tonne component (a cryogenic termination cold box) procured by the Indian Domestic Agency is on its way to Basel harbour, from the Linde Kryotechnik factory near Zürich. This "cold" component is part of ITER's cryodistribution system.

24 January 2019

Heading for the ITER Itinerary

Four transformers travel by barge along the Canal de Caronte, a waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea to an inland sea called Berre l'Etang. The four transformers—one shipped by China and three by Korea—will reach ITER on 23 November.

19 November 2018

Global Logistics Provider: DAHER

ITER's global logistics provider DAHER plans and manages the transport of ITER components from a industrial and logistics management center - the DAHER control room - that uses sophisticated tools to bring each convoy safely to ITER. © DAHER

15 August 2018

First coil case structure for integration in Japan

The first toroidal field coil case structure procured by Japan leaves Korea in early July for transport to the Japanese contractor for coil insertion. Each of ITER's 18 toroidal field coils is composed of a 110-tonne superconducting winding pack and a surrounding coil structure in steel. Japan is procuring all toroidal field coil cases from contractors in Japan and Korea. Half of them will be integrated with superconducting winding packs in Japan, and the other half in Europe

05 July 2018

Magnet power supply equipment reaches ITER

A few hours before dawn on 30 May, a convoy of three converter-transformers reaches the ITER site after three nights of travel along the 104-kilometre ITER Itinerary. The 90-tonne units were procured by Korea for ITER's magnet power conversion system.

04 June 2018

Europe delivers a new batch of specialized tanks

Late May, two small holding tanks and two larger feed tanks are delivered by the European Domestic Agency for the ITER water detritation system.

31 May 2018

Toroidal field coil case

Segments of a 190-tonne steel toroidal field coil case leave Ulsan, Korea, for Venice, Italy. Japan is procuring 19 coil cases through Japanese and Korean contractors; Europe is receiving ten of these for assembly with superconducting toroidal field winding packs produced by contractors in Italy.

24 May 2018

European winding pack takes to the road

The 110-tonne inner core of a toroidal field magnet coil has left the manufacturing facility in Europe where series production is underway (ASG) to be inserted into its outer case by another contractor, SIMIC. Photo: F4E

08 May 2018

Quench tank moved into place

On 23 April, a 35-metre-long tank is moved from storage to be installed near the cryoplant. It is one of two designed to hold helium from the Tokamak's magnetic system in case of a sudden loss of superconductivity (a quench).

23 April 2018

Four large tanks

Large vapour suppression tanks reach France in March, shipped by an ITER Organization supplier in China. The five-metre-tall tanks are shown here crossing the Canal de Caronte on their way to the start of the 104-km road itinerary to the ITER site. © DAHER

23 March 2018

Transformers from Korea

Two transformers for the magnet power conversion system arrive from Korea in January and are immediately installed on site.

31 January 2018

Cryostat segments, repeat

The last of the tier two segments for the lower cylinder of the cryostat arrive at the ITER site.

08 December 2017

Heading for cold testing

The first European winding pack for ITER's toroidal field coils leaves the ASG facility in La Spezia, Italy on 20 November. The 110-tonne component is en route to SIMIC SpA for cold testing and insertion into a steel case.

20 November 2017

Cryostat segments delivered

Second-tier segments for the lower cylinder of the cryostat make their way along the heavy haul road that leads to the platform.

14 November 2017

Magnet feeder component arrives next door

The first segment of one of ITER's 31 magnet feeders has arrived from China and been delivered to the MIFI facility (Magnet Infrastructure Facilities for ITER)—a workshop operated by a joint team from ITER and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) to develop and qualify the ITER magnet elements and their assembly procedures. Testing is underway.

25 October 2017

Last cryogenic tanks delivered by Europe

With Europe's delivery of the last two tanks in October (of eleven), all of the storage tanks for liquid and gaseous helium and nitrogen are now at ITER. They will be installed near the cryoplant in the coming months.

23 October 2017

SPIDER beam source leaves for Italy

In this wooden case, an important realization for the SPIDER testbed in Padua, Italy (Consorzio RFX): the negative ion beam source, manufactured in Europe.

13 October 2017

Segments of the cryostat leave India

On 1 October, seven large segments of the ITER cryostat left the port of Hazira, India, for their ocean crossing to France. These segments, weighing approximately 190 tonnes, form the second tier of the cryostat lower cylinder. Manufactured by Larsen & Toubro in India, they will be assembled and welded in the on-site Cryostat Workshop at ITER.

09 October 2017

Assembly platform for the central solenoid arrives

The crate arriving in this ITER storage facility contains part of the central solenoid assembly platform. Designed to support the 1,000-tonne final central solenoid with a security margin of 300 tonnes, the platform (procured by the US) will be installed in the ITER Assembly Hall.

05 October 2017

Transformers from China

Four converter-transformers from China were delivered on Wednesday, 27 September. They will soon take their place outside of the Magnet Power Conversion buildings.

27 September 2017

Roll on/Roll off

A new roll on/roll off ramp has been built at the Mediterranean port of Fos-sur-Mer. It has been designed to facilitate the transhipment of ITER components, but is also available to other users.

26 September 2017

Busbars on their way from Russia

These DC aluminium busbars, fabricated by the Efremov Institute in Saint Petersburg, Russia, are part of the most recent shipment of electrotechnical equipment that has been dispatched by the Russian Domestic Agency. Eighty-five tonnes of busbars, plus other components, are on their way.

07 September 2017

Arrival of pre-production cryopump

Part of Europe's contributions to ITER, six cryopumps will be installed around the ITER vacuum vessel and two others in the cryostat to maintain ultra-high vacuum conditions. A first pre-production cryopump reaches ITER on 22 August to undergo operational mechanical testing. © F4E

22 August 2017

Cryoline stored

This insulated cryoline from India has been unloaded and stored temporarily on site.

11 August 2017

Crane beams arrive

Europe is equipping the Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility with a new heavy-lift gantry crane. Three of four crane beams arrive on site on 25 July.

25 July 2017

First case segment for toroidal field coils leaves Japan

The toroidal field coil cases are massive structures in steel that will house the D-shaped 110-tonne superconducting winding packs. Japan is responsible for 19 complete coil case sets (including one spare). The first completed case segment left Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan late July (photo) for shipment to Korea, where part of the coil case fabrication is taking place.

21 July 2017

First cryolines reach ITER

After a one-month sea voyage from India and a brief trip along the roads of Provence, the first cryolines have been unloaded on site. Five kilometres of these complex multi-process vacuum-insulated lines will deliver cooling power from the cryoplant to systems that need it such as the ITER magnets and cryopumps.

03 July 2017

On site storage for tool

Not far from the Assembly Hall where the tool will be installed, segments of the first SSAT tool (for vacuum vessel Sector Sub-Assembly Tool) are stored under protective tarpaulin.

22 June 2017

Tool segments arrive on site

At ITER, two massive sector sub-assembly tools will suspend and equip the vacuum vessel sectors in the Assembly Hall before their installation in the Tokamak Pit. Following fabrication, assembly and testing in Korea, the first of the giant tools (22 m tall, 800 tonnes) is on its way to ITER in batches. The first crates reached the site on 22 June.

22 June 2017

Transformer from China

An AC/DC transformer travels at night on 20 June to reach the ITER site. It was shipped by China for ITER's poloidal field coil electrical transformation system.

20 June 2017

Delivered

Delivered to temporary storage on 1 June, these three tanks for gaseous helium will be installed at a later date near the cryoplant in a large exterior zone reserved for the storage of helium and nitrogen in liquid and gaseous forms.

01 June 2017

Gas storage tanks on their way

Three storage tanks for gaseous helium are on their way to ITER, shipped by the European Member as part of its contributions to the ITER cryoplant.

31 May 2017

Tanks arriving

Two (out of six) gaseous helium tanks supplied by Europe arrive at the industrial port of Marseille in May. © DAHER

20 May 2017

First batch of cryolines has left India

The distribution of cryogenic power at ITER will require approximately five kilometres of cryolines. The first batch has just left India, which is responsible for procuring the cryolines, the warm lines and cryodistribution components.

17 May 2017

Largest tool to ship in batches

Following successful factory acceptance tests, ITER's largest assembly tool has been dismantled and packed for shipment. The first batch of components is already travelling between Ulsan, Korea and Fos-sur-Mer, France and is expected on site late June.

11 May 2017

Heavyweights

Electrical transformers weighing a combined 550 tonnes have arrived on site from China. They will be installed in their permanent positions in May.

13 April 2017

April arrivals

A three-trailer convoy arrives at the ITER site early on 13 April carrying two electrical transformers from China and a helium storage tank delivered by Europe. The combined weight of the three components is 700 tonnes.

13 April 2017

Japan delivers high voltage power supply components to PRIMA

Japan is supplying all the high voltage power supplies for MITICA, the full-scale ITER heating neutral beam under installation at the PRIMA neutral beam test facility in Italy. The DC filters delivered in March 2017 are the output sections of the five high voltage generators from -200 kV to -1MV, feeding the accelerator. They are contained in a big tank that will be assembled during the installation phase; later the tank will be filled with SF6 insulating gas at 6Bar.

15 March 2017

Curved cryostat segments

Four segments of the ITER cryostat await transport on the pier in Fos-sur Mer, after arriving from India. They will be deliver one at a time to the ITER site.

13 March 2017

"E-houses" reach ITER

Shipped from China, two components for the electrical switchyard reached ITER in early February: 8-metre-wide "E-houses."

09 February 2017

Transformers from China reach French port

Two 300-tonne electrical transformers procured by China have reached France are in storage until their transfer to the ITER site along the 104-kilometre ITER Itinerary in March.

03 February 2017

Lower cylinder cryostat segments shipped

Late January, six large steel elements of the ITER cryostat left the port of Hazira, India for their voyage to ITER. They represent the first tier of the cryostat lower cylinder. On site at ITER, assembly activities (welding, testing) for the base of the cryostat have been underway since September 2016.

26 January 2017

Ozonators from India

Four containers—part of the "ozonator package" and containing ozone generators—left Hazira, India for ITER on 27 January 2017. Ozone will be used in the heat rejection system at ITER to limit the growth of bacteria.

26 January 2017

Fully furnished E-house

Procured by China, two E-houses for the pulsed power electrical network (PPEN) were unloaded last week in Fos-sur-Mer and are scheduled for delivery to the ITER site on 9 February. © DAHER

18 January 2017

Coldboxes reach site

Three "coldboxes" arrive at the ITER site in the early hours of 15 December. These large vessels contain key "cold" components for ITER's liquid helium plant. Photo: Francois Xavier Gros-Rosanvallon - Acapella Bleu

15 December 2016

Maritime leg for the cold boxes

Seen from the air, two of the three cold boxes shipped by Air Liquide for ITER's cryoplant travel through the Canal du Galliffet in Martigues, France. A convoy of three 45-metre-long trailers is expected on site on 15 December. Photo: Francois Xavier Gros-Rosanvallon - Acapella Bleu

08 December 2016

PPEN transformers loaded in Shanghai

On 29 November, two 300-tonne transformers for ITER's pulsed power electrical network (PPEN) were loaded aboard ship in Shanghai, China. They are expected to reach the Mediterranean port Fos-sur-Mer in January and the ITER site early February.

29 November 2016

E-houses shipped from China

Accompanying the PPEN transformers on the boat from China are two E-houses, which are packed with I&C cubicles to relay orders from ITER's control room to the high voltage components of the 400 kV and 66 kV switchyards.

29 November 2016

Quench tanks delivered

Two 35-metre quench tanks, part of Europe's contribution to the ITER cryoplant, arrive on site on 24 November.

24 November 2016

Heads up!

Two "cold boxes" are en route for ITER. These vessels contain important cold components for ITER's liquid helium plant. ©AirLiquide_LaurentLelong

17 November 2016

Auxiliary cranes for the Assembly Hall

Girders for the 50-tonne auxiliary cranes of the Assembly Hall are delivered on 8 November.

09 November 2016

Unloading 35-metre tanks

Two 35-metre quench tanks for ITER's cryoplant, procured by Europe, arrive at Fos-sur-Mer in November. Photo: DAHER

07 November 2016

Pipes delivered

In November, cooling water pipes are delivered for storage to a 9,000 m² warehouse located on site. This is the first shipment of "centralized" piping—that is piping for different cooling water systems procured from the same supplier for cost efficiency.

07 November 2016

9,000 km ... and then an eyedropper

Salt water can corrode metal parts. In order to test whether salt water has accumulated on the protective covering of the cryostat segments recently delivered to ITER, technicians use an eyedropper and a few drops of diluted silver nitrate. If salinity is found, the tarpaulins are rinsed off before being removed.

21 October 2016

Safely unloaded

After a 9,000-km sea voyage, transport by barge, and finally a 104-km road trip along the ITER Itinerary, the last pieces of the cryostat base are unloaded in the on-site Cryostat Workshop on 20 October.

20 October 2016

Cryostat-en-Provence

A 120-tonne segment of the ITER cryostat is captured "en route" to the ITER site. © AIF

19 October 2016

Two large tanks en route

Two 35-metre tanks have left their production site in the Czeck Republic and are currently en route for ITER. Produced for the European contractor Air Liquide, they are destined for ITER's cryoplant.

19 October 2016

Last pieces of cryostat base arrive in France

Three 120-tonne tier-2 cryostat base segments have been unloaded in Fos-sur-Mer, France, for transport to the ITER site. Shipped from India, these segments are the last major components required for the on-site assembly of the 1,250-tonne cryostat base.

08 October 2016

Cryoplant "cold boxes" packed for delivery

Two of three liquid helium "cold boxes" are packed for transport to ITER. These vacuum vessels are part of the ITER cryoplant, housing key components for the process of cooling helium.

23 September 2016

Seamless piping received on site

The first batch of seamless stainless steel piping for ITER's vacuum system is received in September 2016 for testing. Ten kilometres of pipes like these will connect vacuum pumps to the cryostat, vacuum vessel and neutral beam injector.

21 September 2016

Piping on way from India

On 7 September 2016, India ships a new batch of piping to the ITER site. The piping is destined for the buried networks of the heat rejection, chilled water and component cooling water networks of the ITER installation.

05 September 2016

360 tonnes of cryostat segments leave India

The last shipment of cryostat base segments (three segments/120 tonnes each) leaves Hazira, India in early September. The voyage to the port of Fos-sur-Mer, in France, will take approximately one month.

01 September 2016

360 tonnes of the ITER cryostat

Three large 60° segments of the ITER cryostat base (tier 2) reached Fos-sur-Mer in mid-June and are expected in a three-trailer convoy soon at ITER.

15 June 2016

300-tonne transformer reaches ITER

A Highly Exceptional Load convoy carrying a 300-tonne electrical transformer procured by China reached the ITER site in the early hours of 6 June.

10 June 2016

Piloting all transport activities

Near the Marseille-Provence airport, ITER's Global Logistics Provider DAHER operates a control room that tracks the movements of every component shipped by the Domestic Agencies to the ITER site.

04 June 2016

The first of three Chinese transformers reaches France

China will be supplying three giant electrical transformers for ITER's pulsed power electrical network (PPEN). The first was unloaded in Fos, France on 1 June (picture) for delivery as a Highly Exceptional Load along the ITER Itinerary.

01 June 2016

Another batch of cryostat segments

In late May, three segments of the ITER cryostat were loaded in India for travel to France. Also in the ship's hold—elements of the cryostat transportation frame. This frame—which will be re-assembled on site—will support the components, jigs and fixtures during the assembly process.

26 May 2016

Destination: ITER

A double convoy on 21 April prepares to transport the second pair of Assembly Hall crane girders along the final leg of the ITER Itinerary to the ITER site. The 250-metre convoy is one of the longest to ever travel the roads of southern France.

21 April 2016

13-metre transformer en route from China

This 278-tonne transformer for ITER's pulsed power electrical network (PPEN) left the Chinese port of Tianjin on 17 April and is expected to reach France in early June. This is the first "Highly Exceptional Load" (HEL) delivered by the Chinese Domestic Agency as part of its in-kind procurement for ITER.

15 April 2016

PPEN transformers expected

The first of three electrical transformers is en route from China for ITER's pulsed power electrical network (PPEN). These giant components will be installed on the ITER platform to feed power to the heating and control systems during plasma pulses.

13 April 2016

SPIDER testbed: 100 kV power supply components arrive from India

The SPIDER test bed is a 1:1-scale ion source that will be used to develop the technology for the production of negative ions. Located at the PRIMA neutral beam test facility in Padua, Italy, components are currently arriving from participating partners Europe, India and Japan. In April, 13 trucks carried transformers, switching modules, controllers, high-voltage racks, cables, and disconnector switches supplied by India for the acceleration grid power supply from their arrival port in Venice to PRIMA.

12 April 2016

Special escort

A 47-metre-long steel girder and its transport vehicle are transported by barge across the inland sea Etang de Berre. When they dock, there will still be 104 km to travel by road to the ITER site. © ITER Organization - Emmanuel Bonici

19 March 2016

First crane beam on site

This 47-metre girder beam is the first of four to arrive on site for the heavy-lift cranes of the Assembly Building (the mirror-clad building at right). 18 March 2016

18 March 2016

Girders for the assembly cranes

Two 47-metre long girders—destined to cross the width of the ITER Assembly Building in support of the trolley cranes—reach the Mediterranean port of Fos on 8 March. Four girder beams are expected in the next week at ITER, procured by Europe for the heavy lift assembly cranes.

09 March 2016

Busbars arrive from Russia

In December, the first lot of Russian-procured busbars reach the ITER site. Over 5 km (500 tonnes) of these components that connect magnet coils to their power sources are expected from Russia under the terms of a Procurement Arrangement signed in 2011.

16 December 2015

First machine components arrive!

ITER's first machine components are delivered in the early hours of 10 December—three 50-tonne, 60° segments for the cryostat base that were transported by trailer along the ITER Itinerary.

10 December 2015

Japan delivers its first contributions to PRIMA

In December 2015, Japan delivers its first in-kind contributions to PRIMA, the neutral beam test facility for ITER in Padua, Italy. The pressure vessel and the step-up transformer are part of the power supply for the test bed MITICA, which is a full-scale prototype of the 1 MV heating neutral beam for ITER.

09 December 2015

From ship to barge

Three of the six 60-degree segments of the cryostat base are readied for the crossing of the inland sea Etang-de-Berre. © Emmanuel Bonici

02 December 2015

First machine components dock

Three weeks after leaving India, 460 tonnes of cryostat components arrive at the French port of Fos-sur-Mer on 24 November. The first segments of the ITER cryostat—part of its base—will be the first machine components to reach the ITER site.

24 November 2015

Last leg of the trip

As part of their three-night journey to ITER, the drain tank convoy crosses the A51 highway twice. Five drain tanks shipped from the United States (two in May and three in September 2015) are now stored on the ITER site.

17 September 2015

Drain tanks en route

Three drain tanks for ITER's cooling water system will be transported along the ITER Itinerary this week for delivery to the project construction site. Part of the US contribution to ITER, the tanks completed the maritime segment of the trip on 9 September, crossing inland waterways by barge (photo: Ben Slee, F4E).

10 September 2015

Successful ocean crossing for three US drain tanks

Large-scale components for ITER's tokamak cooling water system were unloaded in the French port of Fos-sur-Mer on 6 September. Procured and shipped by the US as part of its in-kind contributions to the project, the drain tanks will now travel along the ITER Itinerary to the site.

06 September 2015

Pipes arrive

Less than one month after their shipment from India, 24 cooling water pipes are delivered to the ITER Organization in southern France on 2 September.

02 September 2015

First load of cooling water piping shipped from India

In early August 2015, two containers worth of cooling water piping (24 units) for ITER's chilled water and heat rejection systems were shipped from India.

04 August 2015

Last transformers reach site

Three US-procured electrical tranformers are delivered to the ITER site early on 21 May 2015.

20 May 2015

Three transformers ready for transport to ITER

On 13 May, three US-procured transformers are loaded onto trailers to await transport to the ITER site. Two had just been unloaded from their ocean going vessel; a third had been in storage for one month. All three are expected at ITER on Thursday 21 May.

13 May 2015

Drain tanks are delivered

The first two drain tanks manufactured for ITER in the US travelled for three nights along the ITER Itinerary to reach the project site in Saint Paul-lez-Durance, France on 7 May. Photo: AIF-AP 2015

04 May 2015

First drain tanks from the US

The first of five US-procured drain tanks for ITER's Tokamak Cooling Water System were unloaded from the container ship "BBC Zarate" on 26 April 2015.

26 April 2015

Second of four transformers unloaded after sea journey

On Monday 20 April, an 87-tonne transformer was unloaded at the docks of Fos (Marseille). The second of four identical units, the transformer was procured by the US and manufactured in Korea.

20 April 2015

First water detritiation tank delivered

On 20 March, a 20-tonne, 100 m³ tank destined for the ITER detritiation system is delivered. Manufactured by ENSA (Spain) and procured by the European Domestic Agency, it is one of two "emergency tanks" that will collect the tritiated water in case an abnormal situation develops during operations. A second was delivered on 2 April.

20 March 2015

As smooth as clockwork

Everything went according to plan for ITER's first Highly Exceptional Load.

14 January 2015

After a night on the road

Mission completed! By 5:00 a.m. the transformer is safely parked at the ITER site and all participants can enjoy a hot - and well deserved - cup of coffee.

14 January 2015

HEL #1

The sun rises on 14 January over the ITER site and over the first Highly Exceptional Load to be delivered to ITER.

14 January 2015

A warm welcome

All had risen early: ITER senior management, the directors of several ITER Domestic Agencies, members of the ITER Electrical Engineering Division, and representatives of Agence Iter France and DAHER.

14 January 2015

Arrival home

After 60 days on high seas and on the road, the 87-tonne transformer has arrived at its final destination.

14 January 2015

It takes a village ...

To guarantee the safety of the convoy and ensure that all operations go smoothly, over 100 people participated: representatives of ITER; DAHER (the ITER Logistics Service Provider); Agence Iter France; and French authorities.

14 January 2015

The dimensions of the convoy

Together with the trailer, the first exceptional convoy for ITER weighed 126.8 tonnes and measured 20 m (length) x 3.35 m (width) x 5 m (height).

13 January 2015

A glorious sky

The weather conditions could not have been better when the barge "Scirocco" left the docks in Fos-sur-Mer.

12 January 2015

Ready to sail

Cast off! The barge "Scirocco" with its precious cargo is getting ready to sail.

12 January 2015

Transformer afloat

The transformer is loaded onto a specially adapted barge for the crossing of an inland sea.

12 January 2015

Crossing the inland sea Berre l'Etang

The crossing of the Berre d'Etang was the last leg of the transformer's sea voyage. From there, continued on wheels.

12 January 2015

Open, sesame!

Exceptional loads, exceptional measures! Traffic was stopped when the bridge in Martigues opened to allow for the crossing of the ITER convoy.

12 January 2015

The first exceptional load

The pictoresque town of Martigues was the setting for the first leg of the first Highly Exceptional Load transport convoy for ITER Project.

12 January 2015

Through the canal

It was a spectacular sight as the barge with its special cargo made its way through the Canal de Caronte.

12 January 2015

First ITER heavyweight reaches Fos-sur-Mer

The first of four high voltage transformers for ITER's steady state electrical network arrives in Fos-sur-Mer (near Marseille, France) on 19 December 2014. The four transformers, part of the US contribution to ITER, are being supplied under contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries, LLC in Korea.

19 December 2014

87 metric tons

The 87-tonne transformer was lifted out of its "cabin" on the "CMA CGM IVANHOE" after a one-month voyage from Korea.

19 December 2014

All large components will pass through Fos-sur-Mer

The docks in Fos-sur-Mer, the industrial port of Marseille. It is here where the large and heavy components for ITER will arrive and embark on their final journey to the ITER site.

19 December 2014

Sailing on the "Ivanhoe"

The "Ivanhoe", an oceangoing vessel capable of carrying more than 10,000 containers, delivered the transformer from the Korean shores to France.

19 December 2014

The first completed components

Four wooden crates containing the first completed components for the ITER installation arrive on site on 4 September 2014. Destined for the steady state electrical system, the 12 high voltage surge arrestors will be stored temporarily in the Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility.

04 September 2014

Reward at the end of the line

After several technical incidents, the 800-tonne trailer and dummy load reach the ITER site a few hours ahead of schedule on 8 April 2014. Convoy actors share a well-deserved cup of coffee as the sun comes up.

08 April 2014

You'll have to be a night owl to see the convoys

The ITER convoys progress only at night (at not on weekends or holidays) in order to limit the disturbance to the local communities.

03 April 2014

Four hours across

The convoy—the barge, 800-tonne trailer and dummy load, and tugboats—will take four hours to cross the Étang de Berre.

31 March 2014

Through the eyes of the captain

From the tug's elevated wheelhouse the captain navigates from the Gulf of Fos, through the narrow Canal de Caronte and across the inland Étang de Berre on 31 March 2014.

31 March 2014

Taking the necessary time

Personnel from ITER logistics provider DAHER and the Compagnie Fluviale de Transport monitor every millimetre of progress as the trailer crossed onto the barge.

28 March 2014

30 metres to go

The operation takes about eight hours due to long pauses marked after the transfer of each double pair of axle lines (22 in all).

28 March 2014

Itinerary test #2

On 28 March 2014, the second ITER Itinerary test convoy gets underway. This time, the Itinerary test includes a maritime leg.

28 March 2014

Just arrived ... dismantling begins

The convoy has accomplished its mission and dismantling operations begin shortly after arrival on site. The dismantling of the mock load (360 concrete blocks) and the 352-wheel trailer will last for two days.

20 September 2013

Just in time to see a rainbow!

The test convoy was accessible to the public before it began its four-night campaign. At an information stand, visitors had access to mockups, pamphlets and facts about the transport of ITER components. Image: F4E

13 September 2013

September 2013: The ITER test convoy

The four-night measurement campaign of the ITER Itinerary got off to a start on Monday 16 September. The 800-tonne trailer, mimicking the weight and dimensions of the largest ITER loads, travelled for four consecutive nights to reach the ITER site.

13 September 2013

800 metric tons, 10 m high

The 46-metre-long trailer and dummy load were conceived to test key points of the Itinerary. In four nights, measurements were taken at bridges, roundabouts and in 16 villages.

13 September 2013

Dummy load in September 2013

A dummy load made of 360 concrete blocks (800 tonnes), and mimicking the most exceptional dimensions of the ITER loads (10 metres tall, 33 long, 9 wide) was prepared by DAHER to test the ITER Itinerary. The first test convoy will travel during the nights of 16-20 September 2013. Image: DAHER

02 September 2013

352 wheels

This is the type of remote-controlled vehicle that will be responsible for transporting ITER's "exceptional loads" along the ITER Itinerary. Photo: DAHER

25 September 2012

A driver in front, a driver in back

For the most exceptional convoys, the vehicle will travel at an average speed of 5 km/hour, over 3-5 nights.

02 April 2012

The ITER Itinerary begins here

This unloading platform was created at the Port de la Pointe in Berre-l'Etang for ITER's exceptionally-sized components. Photo: AIF

06 November 2011

Expecting oversized convoys

Along the Durance River, the road is enlarged and a footpath created. Photo: DREAL

06 February 2011

Over the tracks

Between Berre and La Fare-les-Oliviers, ITER convoys will pass over the railway tracks.

05 May 2009

104 kilometres for the ITER convoys

The bridge over the Réal River in Peyrolles. Along the ITER Itinerary the convoys will bypass 16 villages, negotiate 16 roundabouts and cross 35 bridges.

05 May 2009

Canal de Provence

A brand-new bridge crosses the Canal de Provence in Peyrolles.

24 April 2009

Financed by local government and the State

The cost of the ITER Itinerary (EUR 110 million) was shared by the Bouches-du-Rhône department Council (66%) and the French State (34%). Photo: AIF

23 February 2009

Three years to complete the ITER Itinerary

The road is widened and the retaining wall strengthened along a formerly narrow passage near Mirabeau. Photo: DREAL

06 February 2009

Keeping the public informed

Public information campaigns were carried out all along the ITER Itinerary to keep the local public informed about the large-scale works underway. Photo: DREAL

06 February 2009

3 years and 25 projects

In all, 25 reconstruction or reinforcement projects were carried out along the 104 kilometres of the ITER Itinerary. Photo: DREAL

06 February 2009

The heaviest convoys, load included, will weigh around 900 tons

Parallel to an existing bridge, a reinforced structure is built over the EDF canal. Photo: DREAL

06 February 2009

A bridge is replaced in Jouques

It took two cranes to lift the five 150-tonne concrete beams of the old bridge in Jouques, which was replaced during work along the ITER Itinerary. © Sophie SPITERI-La Provence

06 February 2009

Remote-controlled transport

This is the type of remote-controlled vehicle that will be responsible for transporting ITER's "exceptional" components along the ITER Itinerary, beginning 2013. Photo: AIF

06 February 2009

Remote-controlled transporter

A simulation of an exceptional convoy travelling along the ITER Itinerary by remote-controlled transporter. Image credit: AIF

Levelling roundabouts

In Berre, a roundabout is levelled in order to allow for the passage of ITER convoys.

02 February 2009

By boat, by barge, by transporter

La Pointe harbour, where ITER components will be unloaded after crossing the Étang de Berre by barge.

02 February 2009

Exceptional convoys

A model illustrating the transport of an "exceptionally sized" ITER component. Photo: AIF

The narrow passage near Mirabeau

Along this narrow 400-metre stretch near Mirabeau, work was carried out to widen the road and replace the old retaining wall dating from 1934 (pictured) with a new one. Photo: DREAL

27 April 2008

The 50th ITER convoy, transporting the two last segments of the cryostat top lid, is seen here as it crosses the A51 thruway in Provence on the last leg of its journey to the ITER construction site.