“Reduced environmental impact is being demanded all over the world,” says Thakker. “And Cargotec’s MacGregor technology helps in a variety of ways. Its self-unloading systems offer the highest cargo transfer efficiencies, reducing energy use and time in port. This arrangement also guarantees to reduce dust emissions to an absolute minimum with the use of a fully enclosed boom conveyor.
“Our new space-saving gates and a fully enclosed boom conveyor, simply add to our range of environmentally responsible technologies.
“Cargo gates are the first element of a ship’s gravity unloading system. They allow the cargo to fall on to the conveyor belt running below the cargo holds in a controlled manner.
The MacGregor full flow gate has a wide opening that both increases cargo capacity and discharge rates while minimizing material flow disruptions . It also requires much less space than traditional gates, so there is more available for revenue earning cargo,” explains Thakker.
The boom conveyor is the final element of a ship’s bulk self- unloading system, transferring the cargo to the receiving facility. Up to now, boom conveyors have been equipped with conveyor covers, water spray nozzles and dust collectors to reduce spillage and keep dust emissions to a minimum. “Modern requirements are for dust-free operations for the benefit of crew, stevedores and the local environment,” says Thakker. “Thanks to its ingenious design, the MacGregor closed boom has an optimal support structure with a smooth upper surface to prevent ice formation and a smooth inner bottom surface for easy cleaning. The new boom will also benefit from an increased life span because the components are well protected against the external elements.”
“There are safety benefits too. Service and inspection is much easier and safer than with a traditional system. Access to boom conveyors has not always been particularly easy. In the new enclosed boom, walkways alongside the belt allow safe and easy access, eliminating the problems of handling heavy, unwieldy access cover plates.”
Tirelessly and step by step, Italy-based Logmarin Advisors has grown to achieve a leading position in the design of dry-bulk material sea-borne supply chains.
Logmarin Advisors really puts its shoulder to the wheel, and achieves great results. Despite the persistent global economic downturn, the business has kept growing up to 2011’s 40%. And the outlook for 2012 is so far very promising.
The FC Blitz designed by Logmarin is the second unit, delivered in 2012, after Vale’s world’s largest floating terminal Ore Fabrica. Both vessels are already contributing to the supply and receiving rings of coal and iron ore supply chains, respectively in Indonesia and China.
Four floating cranes are at various construction stages and will be delivered from July to October 2012; at that time Logmarin’s ‘fleet’ of floating terminals will comprise 16 units, all born in the space of only five years.
FC Blitz is owned by PT MBSS, a major presence in the Indonesian bulk cargo logistics market, operating a modern
and expanding fleet of barging and floating cranes and providing reliable integrated services, offering coal suppliers the opportunity to deal with only one partner and sparing them the complications of having to deal with a number of different organizations.
It is well known that Indonesian coal exports rely heavily on floating facilities which must nowadays lead to high loading rates and easy maintenance. To achieve this objective, experience has shown that the designing stage is by far the most important as it is at that point that the success of a whole project can be determined — especially the major savings and long lifetime. Proven technology must be carefully adapted and assembled to the needs of the specific supply chain, which can’t be considered as identical each time.
The floating crane Blitz was built under RINA’s (Italian Classification Society) and Logmarin’s surveillance/supervision. Motion-dampening bilge keels are fitted on each side to the extent of about three-quarters of the length of the pontoon; structural anti-rolling fins are also fitted in way of the stern skegs. Moreover, like its ‘royal’ sister floating terminal Princesse Chloe, the Blitz has been double bowed, applying the Genoese company’s floating crane concept that reduces the sensitivity to adverse weather conditions, compared with standard floating cranes.
The FC Blitz operates at Muara Pantai, East Kalimantan, Indonesia and is capable of loading in excess of 500,000 tonnes of coal per month, at an average daily rate ranging between 25,000 and 28,000 tonnes, on Cape and Panamax size vessels respectively.
The main dimension (in metres) are: lengths 91.5, width 24.4, depth 5.5. The floating crane is equipped with two (relatively small) Liebherr CBG 300 heavy duty four-rope grab cranes and
Peiner SMAG scissor grabs. The crane’s control system records data about all individual
components in load collectives, all alarm signals and failures as well as peak values. The lifetime of components can thus be analysed and plans for preventative maintenance and spare parts supply can be established.
Specific features for open water conditions include specially designed heavy duty hoisting winches, a strengthened boom, heel trim alarm systems and emergency operation functions.
Much of the strength that enables Logmarin to ‘swim against the tide’ comes from “the ability to create innovative and efficient solutions and to keep as open-minded as possible when facing a new challenge, with no standard option, but to fit the project to the needs of the client.” says Mario Terenzio, managing director.
Logmarin is part of a strategic business alliance established in 2010 with cargo handling manufacturers Bedeschi and Liebherr, under the name of Bulk Logistic Landmark (BLL).
BLL is founded on the synergies, the individual strengths and the networks of each of the three partners. On one side they all can continue doing what they do best, but Bedeschi, Liebherr and Logmarin together can now also offer their customers a larger variety of integrated products and services (software and
hardware) whenever possible, sparing them the trouble of interacting with many organizations thus optimizing the flow of dry bulk materials through cost-effective solutions (shore terminal, storage facilities, floating terminals, self-discharging vessels, floating cranes, etc.).
One of the successes of the alliance is Princess Chloe (owned and operated by PT Mitra Swire CTM ). She has two heavy duty Liebherr cranes, which work in conjunction with a cargo handling system comprising hoppers, conveyors and a shiploader that perform at an average daily rate exceeding 50,000 tonnes (that is 62% higher than the contractual one). The best daily average loading rate achieved so far is 56,471 tonnes. In addition to this level of performance, the fuel consumption is very low (less than a glass of diesel for each tonne of coal loaded), making the whole system even more efficient.
Nowadays, floating terminal technology has matured and there is a wealth of knowledge from many examples of floating terminals in operation for dry bulk, oil and gas all over the world and the trend towards utilization of this alternative is still growing.
Prospective clients who are considering a transloading operation should always seriously consider engaging a consulting engineering firm with actual experience in this specific offshore field, to determine the most favourable system to suit their specific needs, both technically and commercially to oversee project implementation from beginning to commissioning.
State-of-the-art technology drives operational and environmental performance on CSL’s new Trillium Class vessels
In the autumn of 2012, CSL International will welcome the first of its three new Trillium-class Panamax-size specialty self- unloading vessels. The three vessels will join the CSLI Pool throughout 2012/13 along with two other ships of the same class and design currently under CSL-supervised construction by Klaveness.
Inspired by the three petals of its namesake flower, the Trillium Class represents the three tenets of CSL’s sustainability philosophy as well as the three areas in which the new vessels will excel: fuel efficiency, operational performance and environmental sustainability.
“CSL recognizes that investing in sustainable technologies makes good business sense not only because it reduces the environmental impact of operations, but because it significantly improves operational and energy efficiency,” notes Paul Cozza, president of CSL International. “The Trillium class is a reflection of CSL’s corporate philosophy whereby the protection of the environment is inseparable from the long-term growth and viability of the company.”
Featuring the most advanced technology available in the industry today, the Trillium-class vessels have been built to respond to the evolving business needs of customers with the most environmentally-friendly solutions. From reductions in NOx, SOx and other air emissions, to fuel efficiency and waste and pollution management, CSL’s new ships will meet or exceed compliance to current and anticipated environmental regulations.
Beginning with the hull, the Trillium custom design developed by Deltamarin enhances fuel efficiency and manoeuvrability by featuring an innovative cylindrical type bow and an aft end configuration with stern and rudder bulbs, and large propeller diameter. A new high quality hull coating increases speed and power by removing any attached fouling with TBT-free antifouling biocides, thus preventing marine growth with no negative impact on the environment.
Trillium ships feature IMO Tier II main engines, more powerful than any comparable vessel engine and specifically conceived to increase fuel efficiency and control NOx and particulate matter emissions.
The innovative use of variable-frequency drives (VFD) on the new vessels enhances thruster speed and power control, and reduces pollution risk by eliminating the need for hydraulic oil in the thruster propellers. The VFD also better adapts the ship to
long passages in restricted waters by keeping the machinery off, (less idling time) but always within seconds of being available. Utilizing ‘just enough’ power to control any process, including thruster, ventilation, ballasting and cooling instead of running at full speed, the use of
VFD means fewer generators have to be on line to start machinery, which results in reductions in fuel consumption.
The introduction of Power Take-Off (PTO) generation from the main engine is also more efficient and economical as it reduces the running hours and fuel consumption of auxiliary engines.
The Trillium design features a comprehensive fuel management system that allows for the real-time monitoring of fuel oil consumption for optimum operating ranges. The system also evaluates other performance influencing factors including hull fouling, propeller roughness, and the functioning of currents and the main engine.
The new VFD-driven self-unloader (SUL) system allows for soft starting and has the ability to precisely adjust unloading rates to meet customer demands. Dust suppression is also significantly enhanced on the Trillium class vessels through feeder gates, boom dust enclosures, dust collectors and foam spray dust suppression systems.
Extensive oil pollution prevention measures have been put in place including the installation of a centrifuge-type Oily Water Separator (OWS) to obtain very low oil concentrations.The OWS is fitted with a ‘white box’ recorder to track the timing and location of treatment and discharging.
A seawater lubricated stern tube bearing system also eliminates stern tube oil pollution risk and reduces the potential for pollution caused by fishing nets and other leak sources.
All available scrubbers and ballast water treatment systems are currently being studied and analysed for suitability of installation on the Trillium-class vessels. Space has been reserved on the ships and additional generator power put in place to accommodate the installation of the new scrubber and ballast water treatment systems.
Other innovative features of the Trillium Class Panamax vessel include platform optimization, energy efficient LED lighting, low velocity high and low water intake for ballast, the use of a less harmful onboard refrigerant and grey and black waste water management.
“The SUL Panamax carrier is already considered one of the most environmentally efficient ships,” said Cozza.“With the introduction of the Trillium Class Panamax-size specialty self- unloading vessel, CSL will be taking the technology several steps further, benefitting our customers, our industry and most of all, our environment and our communities.”