The comprehensive logistics project was coordinated with local and international partners. The 55-ton and four-meter-high bell has proven to be a challenging and complex transport, according to the logistics company. Stanisław Bochenek, Managing Director of Cargo-Partner Poland:
“This is a significant project for us. The scale of this task required careful planning and coordination, and we are pleased to have contributed to the transport of this important and unique object.”
The Cargo-Partner branch in Gdynia, Poland coordinated all logistics, including transport in Poland as well as handling and customs clearance at the Baltic Hub port.
From Poland to Brazil
The 10,000-kilometer journey of the Vox Patris, Latin for "Voice of the Father," began in southern Poland, where it was cast by the Jan Felczyński bell foundry and Rduch Bells & Clocks. It was then carefully packed, loaded onto a truck by a crane, and temporarily stored in a warehouse near the Baltic Hub Terminal in Gdańsk, it is reported. From there, the bell, two smaller bells, and parts of the construction were prepared for oversized sea transport (OOG) to Brazil.
The record bell was loaded directly from the truck onto the ship and secured below deck on three flat racks. Special measures were taken to ensure the stability of the oversized cargo during transit, according to the logistician. The smaller bells and other items were transported in a flat rack and two open-top containers. The flat rack container included cargo that protruded in width and height, while the two open-top containers contained cargo with excess height. Each of these containers had a gross weight of around 20 to 22 tons.
Further Transportation on Brazilian Mainland
The ship then departed Gdańsk on April 10, 2025, setting course for Santos in Brazil. After its arrival, the bell will continue its 1,600-kilometer journey to its final destination in Trindade, central Brazil. This part of the route is handled by the Brazilian freight forwarder Windlog, which had been contracted by Cargo-Partner for the overseas transportation of the bell. Stanisław Bochenek:
"Transporting a load of this size and significance requires a high degree of precision, and synchronizing all aspects of the transport process was a key challenge. Our team ensured that the bell was safely prepared for both land and sea transport, with special attention given to securing the oversized load."
Vox Patris: The largest bell in the world
The bell weighs a total of 55 tons, comparable to the weight of ten African elephants, and with a height of four meters is comparable to the size of a giraffe. The diameter is 4.5 meters. Cast from a copper-tin alloy, it is designed for both sound and appearance.
After its arrival in Brazil, Vox Patris is to be hung in a 100-meter high bell tower of the Basilica of the Eternal Father in Trindade, at a height of 30 meters. A new cathedral is currently being built there with space for 12,000 believers, which is set to become the largest church in the world. Annually, more than four million visitors visit the pilgrimage site.
