The Port of Gothenburg, the largest open access energy port in Scandinavia, has automated the relay of information for large-scale pumping between its terminals and refineries.
A new pumping administration automation platform will ensure that its facilities receive a rapid, concise notification about when pumping can take place.
With 2,500 tanker calls each year taking up a higher level of quay space utilisation, Port of Gothenburg’s new system will manage the rising number of vessels more quickly and efficiently than previously while adhering to the same strict safety requirements.
The system, previously handled by an older arrangement with a large number of manual components, is allowing the port and the pumping operator to monitor statistics directly and see the exact cost of hiring the facility.
These improvements have freed up a further 2.2% of production capacity in the pipeline as the application can book in customers based on the date and time pumping is required, along with the location and type of product.
Port of Gothenburg has reported that the system should save it an additional 600 hours of production capacity each year.
Jörgen Wrennfors (pictured above), Production Development Engineer at Gothenburg Port Authority, commented: “We are striving continuously to eliminate bottlenecks, and the project involves building up an automation platform.
“This is a long-term project and a vital part of our ambition to enhance efficiency even further.”
The use of the digital systems has also resulted in more control over a number of control points in the area, all of which need to be checked at every four hours at all times of the year.
Before the system, engineers checked control points using barcode scanners and pen and paper, but now the pipeline supervisors receive all the information they require via computer tablets.
Each tablet links to a GPS system that confirms the presence of the pipeline supervisor.
Eric Berndtsson, Production Planner at the Port of Gothenburg, commented: “The pipeline supervisors can report deviations, such as temporary pumping stoppages, allowing the customer to follow events via the system history log.
“This has been one of the main reasons for our high level of customer satisfaction.”
