Technical Papers

In the present world economic scenario, characterised by high uncertainty and market instability, the port sector is holding back expansion plans. These projects provide for huge investments, which are necessary for upgrading and building the new facilities required to accommodate the ocean going vessels trading worldwide, whose cargo carrying capacity has augmented to minimise the ocean freight impact.

Cement and clinker trade faces a downward trend, due to the economic crisis and because of the recent investment boom in the cement industry, with new production capacities in former import countries and corresponding lower imports.

At the site where, up to now, Ultra-Brag AG unloaded ships and warehoused goods in the Rhine port of Basel, Novartis plans to realize its campus idea. As a replacement for its existing installations, Ultra-Brag has therefore moved to the port of Kleinhüningen, where it has constructed an 83 meter tall bulk storage elevator, and to the Muttenzer Auhafen port, where it has built a huge flat store.

The Eighth Coast Guard District recently completed Operation Big Tow, a three-month long effort designed as a result of a collision between a cargo vessel and a loaded oil barge on the Mississippi River that spilled more than 282,000 gallons of #6 fuel oil into the river. Operation Big Tow was designed to ensure vessel operators were properly licensed for their respective vessel’s size, type and route.

Historically, computer hardware and software solutions have helped drive productivity in ports, airports, and rail yards. But productivity alone is not enough. Now Port Managers face issues of security, controlled access, and identity verification. With more than three decades of success in engineering computer solutions, DAP Technologies has risen to the challenge to make access control easier and data more reliable.

“Global logistics chain suffers port bottlenecks”, “Seaports struggling with increase in container vessel sizes”, “Citizen complaints over port neighbourhoods”... The above list of newspaper headlines could be prolonged endlessly, highlighting that obviously seaports have some technical and organisation problems to deal with. With this in mind, the move by the European Commission to launch a specific port research project within its 6th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development certainly was a good one.

The opening of the new Khalifa Bin Salman Port later this year will see the Kingdom of Bahrain enhance its traditional place at the centre of transport and trade in the region, particularly for destinations in the Upper Gulf.

As part of the efforts to increase refinery capacity in the US, Total Petrochemicals is in the process of expanding the production capacity of their Port Arthur, Texas, refinery. This US$2.2 billion dollar project will increase production by approximately 30 per cent. A new coke export terminal, developed by the TGS Development Group of Houston, Texas, will be included in the expansion, and operated by the Kinder Morgan Terminal Group.

A modern container terminal needs an interface between the Terminal Operating System (TOS) and the crane control system onboard the cranes. If the terminal includes fully automatic cranes, it is an absolute necessity to be able to send work orders directly from the TOS to the cranes. Moreover, for cranes with semi-automation, where the automatic cycle is started and supervised by the operator onboard the crane, it is convenient with a direct interface with the TOS.

The recurrent problem of dust creation is a key issue when handling bulk materials, as it constitutes a severe risk on health, safety and environment. Increased focus on these matters, combined with strengthened regulations, has resulted in enhanced need for dust handling equipment.

Ketchikan, Alaska is a major cruise ship port along the Inside Passage, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Given the decline of the timber and fishing industries in Southeast Alaska, tourism has become the mainstay of Ketchikan’s local economy. However the structural deterioration of Berths had become a critical issue for the community.

Optimal performance of computer equipment is essential for efficient port operations. From selecting equipment that can stand up to challenging port environments, to ensuring equipment is serviced regularly and runs up-to-date software, computers are a priority for any port environment.