B&W StormajorTM provides unrivalled stockpiling,
rail and barge loading flexibility
In these days of incredibly tight capital budgets, cost effectiveness
of equipment and system flexibility come to the fore like never
before. The Stormajor™ mobile loader from UK Company
B&W Mechanical Handling Limited fits this bill perfectly. Having
a pedigree of over 25 years and being a unique concept in bulk
materials handling, the Stormajor™ combines the benefits of the
Samson™ feeder design with a radial and luffing outloading
boom conveyor into a single mobile machine able to receive
material both from tipping trucks, loading shovels and grab
cranes.
B&W, based in Ely, Cambridgeshire, enjoys the benefits of
being fully integrated into the substantial and respected
International Aumund Group with strategically placed offices in
more than 10 countries and representatives in over 40.
The Stormajor™ offers high-capacity stockpiling, railcar and
ship loading from a single integrated machine, available with a
range of specialised features tailored for each application.
As a universal bulk loader, the Stormajor™ offers very high
handling rates within a compact integrated design. The machine
has capacities ranging from 300 to 1,250 cubic metres per hour
depending on the outloading boom belt, currently available in
800mm, 1,000mm and 1,200mm widths as standard.
In certain circumstances a single machine can be configured
to fulfil all rail-car loading, ship loading and stockpile forming
requirements for a particular site.
The reception section of the Stormajor™ is the world
renowned Samson™ apron belt feeder unit. The configuration
of Samson™ is chosen specifically for each application, ranging
from the lighter duty 380 series for grains and lower capacities
to the very heavy duty 1600 series typically for mineral ores and
high capacities. The geometry of the Samson™ feeder section is
determined by the material characteristics such as flow angles,
lump size and angle of repose. The inherent storage capacity of
the intake hopper allows a fast turnaround time for trucks
leading to faster unloading.
A comprehensive range of outloading boom systems is
available to meet every situation. Slewing options are available
ranging from a standard ±30° from the boom centreline right up
to a full ±90° for special applications.
Two basic boom designs are produced based on a parallel
structure for machines up to 24 metres in length and belt widths
up to 1,000mm. For larger units and belt widths of up to
1,200mm a tapered boom structure is provided allowing higher
loadings and extended cantilever boom lengths up to 30 metres.
A wide angular luffing range of +30° to almost horizontal is
achieved using a hydraulic cylinder in tension. At the base the
boom is mounted to a precision ball-bearing slew ring with a
hydraulically operated slewing system. This combination of ‘high
lift ‘ and ‘high reach’ make the Stormajor™ an ideal choice for
barge and smaller vessel loading.
The high outloading boom angles are achieved using a
chevron belt where the material handling characteristics permit.
All outloading boom designs include three roll troughing idlers
with parallel return rolls, all formed integral to the boom
structure for minimum weight and maximum structural integrity.
At the feed point either close-pitch troughing and transition
idlers are provided or, for impact resistance handling heavy
materials, impact bars can be included together with an
extended feed boot and flexible side seals.
Specifically for shiploading, the cambered boom design, as
illustrated here, allows the head of the conveyor to be lowered
over the vessel hold to reduce the free fall distance and
minimize the effects of windage on the material flow in-flight.
The Stormajor™ is also highly capable of providing a flexible
solution for railcar loading. Incorporating an on-board weighing
system, the product loaded into each railcar can be controlled to
an accuracy of plus or minus 0.5%. The weighing system,
comprises a single weigh idler mounted to the outloading boom
belt conveyor together with an electronic interface and control
panel including digital displays and a resettable totalizer. A
tachometer is fitted to the conveyor tail pulley to accurately
measure the belt speed plus an inclinometer to measure the
boom angle and these factors computed along with the load
applied to the weigh idler determine the handling rate of the
equipment. With a loading rate of some 500tph (tonnes per
hour), the Stormajor™ can load the railcars quickly, but thanks
to the integral weighing system, without risk of overload. The
loading operation is automated and linked to the client’s main
computer system, using a wireless network on site, which
instructs the weighing controller how much ore to load to each
railcar. After achieving the required set weight in each
consecutive railcar the weighing system stops the Stormajor™
belt drives to suspend loading until the next railcar is in position.
The equipment is re-started manually and the weighing system
automatically reset for each railcar.
For this application the Samson™ 800 Series design provides
around 60 tonnes of live storage and will receive material either
from the grab cranes direct or from a conventional loading
shovel.
This project illustrates the versatility of the Stormajor™
concept in that the same unit may be used for rail-car loading,
stockpiling and for barge loading with the added bonus of
complete mobility requiring no fixed concrete foundations or
dedicated port infrastructure.
 
DUST CONTROL FEATURES
The efficient control of dust emissions is a major feature with
several options available. The Stormajor™ loader can be fitted
with flexible PVC covers for both the Samson™ and the
outloading boom together with a variable-angle trimming chute
at the delivery end. More comprehensive solutions include a
fully profiled steel enclosure for the receiving section complete
with dust extraction and filtration systems and a cascade dust
controlled loading spout to control the material into the railcar
or hold floor.
 
SHIP TRIMMING
For shiploading applications a variable-angle chute system is
available to allow accurate placement of material within the
vessel hold. The machine (illustrated below) is fitted with an
entrainment chute at the conveyor head delivering the material
to a variable-angle section including a hydraulic actuator
providing inward and outward movement of the discharge.
Controls for the chute system are provided at the main
machine control cabinet and in addition an infrared remotecontrol
system can be provided to operate the trimming chute
and boom slew, raise and lower functions from the ship’s deck.
The example above also shows the optional stainless steel
chute extensions which allow control of the material trajectory
into the vessel hold. These extensions clip to the base chute
part and can be easily removed when not required.
By combining the variable-angle trimming chute and the radial
boom function, the Stormajor™ may load and trim barges and
small ships effectively with the minimum of machine movements.
Where space is limited and for fast travel along the vessel
hold, the parallel travel system (described below) provides
further improvements in trimming capability and faster overall
loading rate by minimizing the lost time in machine positioning.
For handling dusty cargoes in sensitive areas the Cascade-style
chute may be installed with a specially reinforced outloading
boom to carry the additional imposed loadings.
 
TRAVEL SYSTEMS
The unique travel capabilities of the Stormajor™, providing total
mobility in any direction, are achieved by the innovative
‘powered in line’ and ‘powered parallel’ travel systems. In-line
travel with rear axle steering allows easy positioning within the
operating site, with minimum lost time in manoeuvring the
equipment. With larger machines, weighing upwards of 130
tonnes, powered travel is the only real option, allowing the
machine to be redeployed safely and quickly. Hydraulic wheel
hub motors are employed to drive the machine with integral fail
safe brakes.
Parallel travel systems allow movement in any direction and
are particularly suited to shiploading applications where the
Stormajor™ must move parallel to the vessel for fast trimming.
Parallel travel can be supplied with any size of machine including
the twin tandem axle systems supplied on larger machines.
Automatic wheel positioning is provided using the rotary
potentiometer alignment system, allowing the four wheels to be
set at 90° for conventional parallel movement or set at an angle
for travel ‘crab fashion’ in confined spaces.
For in-line travel the forward wheels are set in the
conventional in-line travel position and the rear wheels used to
steer the machine.
The independent wheel units are mounted to a slew ring
fitted with hydraulic actuators to control the wheel alignment
and variable proportional hydraulic valves to allow variable travel
speed. These functions are driven from the control position using
a simple joy-stick.
 
DRIVE SYSTEMS
A variety of drive systems are available using electric motor,
diesel engine or diesel gen-set prime movers, all with hydraulic
power transfer to the conveyor drives and for control services.
The flexibility offered by hydraulic power transfer allows
simplified maintenance and excellent long term
reliability.
The use of hydraulic drives permits high
power transmission within compact
dimensions and allows the prime mover to be
located at low level on the main machine
chassis for easy maintenance access.
Diesel drives are offered using a wide range
of air or liquid cooled engines. The engine is
mounted on the main chassis at low level for
easy access and maintenance. For machines
with a sound-attenuated enclosure, the engine
is mounted to the side of the chassis.
Where mains power is available electric
motor drives offer an economical and
minimum maintenance solution using a trailing
cable between the power supply and the
Stormajor™.
Larger machines are fitted with a diesel generator comprising
an engine/generator unit installed within a sound-attenuated
enclosure. This is mounted directly to the Stormajor™ chassis
at low level. This arrangement is ideal where auxiliary services
such as control cabin air conditioning and general lighting are
required.
The B&W Stormajor™ has been providing effective, reliable,
high performance handling of a wide range of bulk materials for
more than 25 years.
 
Full steam ahead for Drax Power biomass facility at the Port of Tyne
In recent months, steady progress has been
made on the construction of the covered
storage facility to store the biomass for
Drax Power Ltd at the Port of Tyne. There
has been a steady beat as the piles were
being driven in and the good news is that
this has now been completed with a total of
1,500 piles firmly entrenched. Erection of
the steelwork is well under way and the
project is on course for completion in
October.
Says Andrew Moffat, CEO of the Port of
Tyne “We finished 2009 in a very upbeat
manner by signing an agreement with Drax
Power Ltd, which sees the start of a project
for the provision of handling and covered
storage facilities for between 0.5 million and
1.4mt [million tonnes] of biomass per
annum, for an initial 10 year period. This
agreement is in line with our strategy for
sustainability and ensuring there continues
to be a vibrant working port on the river Tyne.”
The biomass, which will be from sustainable
sources, will be used at the Drax Power Station in
North Yorkshire. The Port of Tyne will be
responsible for the unloading of vessels containing
up to 75,000 tonnes of biomass, transfer to storage
facilities and subsequent reloading to train for
dispatch, all of which will occur on the south bank
at the port’s operations in South Shields.
Moffat says “Strategically, this development
represents another major long-term investment for
the Port of Tyne that will take full advantage of our
excellent deep water berths and facilities,
infrastructure and manpower.
This is the kind of long-term project which not
only ensures the port’s viability but also ensures
future employment opportunities.”
He adds, “There is some fairly extensive work
to be done to accommodate the specific
requirements of this project and we are investing
over £16 million to ensure everything will be
ready in time for the port to be able to handle
the new biomass cargo.”
Drax is one of the Port of Tyne’s major
customers. Drax Power Station provides in the
region of 7% of the electricity in the UK and from
mid 2010 is set to produce 12.5% of its output
from renewable biomass. Drax started its
working relationship with the Port of Tyne in
2004 with a contract for handling coal. Since
then 95 vessels with a total volume of 3mt have
been handled by the port.
Mrs Dorothy Thompson, chief executive of
Drax says “This project represents a major
commitment to the Port of Tyne by Drax and we
are looking forward to continuing our good
working relationship. Our venture into biomass is
a key part of Drax’s commitment to reducing the
carbon footprint of UK power generation.”
 
Forth Ports invests in Sennebogen hydraulic material handlers
Forth Ports PLC Scottish Operation has undertaken a
modernization programme for its short-sea general cargo
operations. The cranes which had been the workhorses of the
ports were ageing, proving to be unreliable and in need of
replacement, therefore a project team was pulled together to
evaluate cargo handling equipment suitable for vessels up to
6,000dwt.
After much investigation the project team recommended
investment in modern, hydraulic material handling equipment, but
more significantly also concluded that to achieve the greatest
level of utilization, the equipment should be mobile and capable
of transfer between each of the ports on the River Forth and
River Tay. This feature further enhances Forth Ports’ customer
offering, without tying up significant capital in each location.
The resultant investment, totalling £3.2 million, in four stateof-
the-art Sennebogen 870M hydraulic material handlers, has
greatly improved the overall efficiency of each of the ports, with
customer feedback being extremely positive. In many cases,
lifting capabilities have been doubled and the ports have been
able to meet and surpass customer demands to accelerate vessel
turnaround. As well as introducing new equipment, Forth Ports
PLC Scottish Operation has introduced a dedicated team of ten
employees, taken from the existing workforce as well as from
externally, to operate the equipment. This specialist team has
brought flexibility and efficiency to the handling of cargo.
The equipment is deployed on a range of cargoes, including
grain, animal feed, chemicals, aggregates and iron and steel. The
equipment has a full range of specialized attachments allowing a
multitude of cargo to be handled and each machine has a multichange
tool which vastly reduces downtime when changing
attachments. This feature in particular has delivered significant
health and safety improvements by minimizing the level of
machine and employee interface.
Forth Ports has built a close and professional relationship
with the team from Sennebogen through the tender and
manufacturing process and for Sennebogen the Forth Ports’
870s were the first to be transported between different
locations.
With the introduction of these material handlers, Forth Ports
PLC now provide a fast and efficient cargo handling service at all
its Scottish locations, which is particularly significant in the
current economic climate.
 
Kingfisher: specialist in the protection of process plant and equipment
A bulk material import terminal based in the UK suffered from
premature equipment failure on a ship unloading and conveying
system. The port handles approximately 1mt (million tonnes)
tonnes of sub bituminous coal per month, unloading and
discharging at approximately 5,500tph (tonnes per hour).
When the plant was originally installed, all transfer points
were protected with chrome carbide hard-faced liner plates.
The liner plates achieved a minimal service life of 9 to 12
months before failures started to occur.
Kingfisher Industrial designed and installed replacement
systems for these areas using K-ALOX, a high alumina ceramic
lining system with an excellent resistance to impact and friction
induced abrasion. All replacement work was completed with
minimal disruption to the plant operation. By co-ordinating with
the port engineering and operational departments, it was
possible to ensure that the site activities coincided with shipping
gaps already planned for routine maintenance.
Plant failures began around four years ago. Since then,
Kingfisher has been installing replacement systems as equipment
failed. The replacement project originally was more responsive
to areas of failure. However, as the client has seen the benefit of
using K-ALOX, all remaining wear areas have now been
prioritized and the installation of wear-protection systems
provided by Kingfisher Industrial continues.
The proven system was designed and installed by Kingfisher’s
own trained site engineers and offers a minimum of ten years’
service without the need for any interim maintenance.
No significant material wear is present after a
throughput in excess of 4mt. The K-ALOX liners positioned
centrally at the high impact point are of greater thickness which
means that the full lining system will achieve a more uniform life.
K-ALOX plays a vital part in protecting plant when bulk
solids are conveyed or processed by mechanical, pneumatic or
hydraulic means. K-ALOX is ideally suited to counter both
impact and sliding abrasion and erosion in any applications within
the bulk solids handling industrial.
In offering a solution-driven concept to counter the effects of
handling and processing bulk solid material and by utilizing its
expertise in the design, manufacture, protection and installation
of process plant and equipment, Kingfisher adds a significant
return on investment, achieving stakeholder satisfaction. With
ever-increasing performance targets on efficiency, safety and
environmental compliance, it is imperative that plant operators
and engineers utilize best practice in ensuring these aims
are achieved. Working with strategically chosen partners, the
company offers a complete range of technically advanced
materials to maximize the potential benefits of
implementing industry proven system enhancements ... a full
turnkey solution.
 
NEW PREMISES
In October 2009 Kingfisher Industrial moved to a new
purpose-built 35,000ft3 factory in the West Midlands. Industryrelated
seminar days are planned for 2010, including a tour of the
new facilities.
 
Dry bulk cargo — latest developments around the Associated British Ports group
Eighteen of Associated British Ports’ (ABP) 21 ports handle dry
bulks, with dedicated terminals and specialist storage space. In
recent years ABP, the UK’s largest and leading ports operator,
has made considerable investments in new facilities at its dry
bulk handling ports. This, combined with the expertise of the
various terminal operators in handling the cargo, and the ports’
geographical spread, has enabled ABP to develop its dry bulk
handling business, with 33.4mt (million tonnes) handled in 2009.
HUMBER PORTS
The port of Grimsby & Immingham, with its central east coast
location on the South Bank of the Humber, is a multi-modal
gateway to the UK’s agricultural, industrial and retail markets.
Well served by road, rail and coastal shipping, the Port of
Immingham is the UK’s largest dry bulk-handling port. Cargoes
such as coal, ilmenite, petroleum coke, titanium slag, ferrous
alloys, pig iron and pyrites are all handled regularly at the port’s
in-dock and deep-water facilities.
Bulk products have been central to the port’s portfolio of
trades and significant recent investments in high quality facilities
have enhanced Immingham’s reputation as the leading bulkhandling
port.
The ports of Hull & Goole are in prime locations on the
North Bank of the Humber and on the River Ouse, respectively.
The Port of Hull is one of the UK’s leading foreign-trading ports;
its sister port Goole is Britain’s premier inland-port. Both have
long-established reputations for handling bulk cargoes effectively.
At the Port of Hull, Kingston Terminal at Queen Elizabeth
Dock is operated by Hull Bulk Handling Ltd for the handling of
coal and other mineral bulks and offers over 17 ha of storage
linked to the quayside via a covered conveyor.
Humber Sand and Gravel Ltd supplies the local construction
industry from the company’s terminal based at Hull’s Alexandra
Dock. Harding Cargo Handling Ltd also handles aggregates, as
well as other dry-bulk traffic, from its terminals in Alexandra
Dock and Albert Dock.
New Holland Bulk Services’ terminal, in King George Dock,
handles animal feed and other dry bulks, with its own 28-tonne
capacity floating crane and weigh tower. Vessels of up to
30,000dwt can be handled, and the berth is linked to a
40,000-tonne store by a direct conveyor. Titan Cement (UK)
Ltd has a specialized facility for handling quality-assured cement
from Greece.
Grains are stored at a specialist silo facility in King George
Dock. The silo, which is operated by Frontier Agriculture Ltd,
has a capacity of 60,000 tonnes, and cargoes are exported to a
variety of European destinations.
Stema Shipping (UK) Ltd has a terminal in Queen Elizabeth
Dock for handling aggregates imported from Norway.
Sims Group UK Ltd operates a scrap metal exporting facility
in Queen Elizabeth Dock.
NW Trading Ltd operates a dry bulks terminal in King
George Dock specializing in agribulk and biomass products.
ABP operates an all weather facility specializing in bagged and
bulk fertilizer imports
 
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
In October 2000, ABP opened the £30 million Humber
International Terminal 1, capitalizing on Immingham’s deep-water
location with a 300m-long berth capable of receiving vessels
carrying in excess of 100,000 tonnes of cargo. Vessels are
discharged or loaded by the terminal’s three 100-tonne capacity
mobile harbour cranes which, in grabbing mode, can each reach
a discharge rate of 700tph (tonnes per hour).
To meet the power-generation industry’s escalating demand
for coal, ABP invested a further £59.5 million in Humber
International Terminal 2, which opened in May 2006. This
extension increases Humber International Terminal’s total quay
length by 220m and is able to accommodate vessels carrying
more than 100,000 tonnes of cargo. Equipped with the latest
dockside plant and fully automated landside operations, the
terminal is able to handle over 9.5mt of coal each year.
The increasing demand for imports of biomass to service
electricity generation is requiring further warehouse
development at both the Humber International Terminal and the
inner dock complex.
The Immingham Bulk Park — a 20,000m2 bulk warehousing
complex designed to service the value-added requirements of
the UK’s agricultural market —
provides bagging and storage facilities adjacent to the quays at Immingham
Dock. Bulk storage has recently been increased with the development of a
further 9,600m2 of high-quality bulk warehousing within the Immingham
Bulk Park complex in October last year.
At a cost of £4 million, this sees the completion of a comprehensive
investment programme including a further £1.3 million refurbishment of
four existing warehouses totalling over 13,000m2 of undercover bulk storage.
Immingham’s total covered storage for bulk cargo within the Bulk Park
complex now exceeds 43,000m2.
ABP’s commitment to sustainable development played a
significant part in the new builds from the early design stages.
All warehouses built to accommodate more than one bulk
commodity require a high level of house-keeping and water
consumption. As a consequence, the design team developed a
rainwater capture system. The harvested water is used for
pressure washing plant and vehicles working in the store.
Another resource saving measure is the use of solar power
feeding the adjoining office suite with hot water for staff use and
the central heating system.
In March 2010 a cargo of almost 50,000 tonnes of grain, the
largest grain export ever to leave the Humber Estuary, was the
first grain shipment to be loaded at the deep-water riverside
facility.
Immingham’s sister port of Grimsby also handles a wide
range of bulk cargoes including imports of fertilizer, minerals and
ores, together with grain exports.
Regular cargoes of cement are handled in Grimsby’s Royal
Dock, for shipment to Leith in Scotland. The loading operation
is via a pneumatic sealed transfer system to specialized coastal
bulk vessels.
In October 2009 ABP Hull launched the All-Weather
Terminal, which completed the handling of its first bagged
fertilizer shipment on behalf of Helm Fertilizer.
The Hull All-weather Terminal can accommodate vessels of
up to 13.5m air draught completely within the enclosed terminal
and therefore can offer uninterrupted all-weather working from
and to the vessel and the storage areas. The terminal also
enjoys a completely undercover rail connection.
Following the recent granting of a Control of Major Accident
Hazards (COMAH) licence, the Hull All-weather Terminal is now
able to handle and store fertilizer cargoes, and in February 2010
the terminal saw the successful completion of the first shipment
and discharge of more than 8,100 tonnes of fertilizer (in bulk)
from Egypt for its customer Helm Great Britain Ltd.
ABP also announced in February 2010 that it has entered
into an exclusivity agreement with DONG Energy for a site
within ABP’s Hull port estate for the development of a biomass
power station of up to 300MW.
The power station will be a catalyst for the construction of a
new deep-water berth that will be located adjacent to the
proposed power station. The Hull Riverside Bulk Terminal
(HRBT) will handle the imported biomass fuel for DONG
Energy but will also have capacity for other dry bulk customers.
Having worked closely with DONG Energy for a number of
months, ABP applied for permission to develop the berth, by
submitting a Harbour Revision Order to the Department for
Transport in February. The berth itself will be capable of
handling ships up to 300m long and, at an indicative cost of £100
million to develop, represents one of the largest single
investments ever undertaken by ABP. If the development plans
are approved, a significant number of new jobs will be created
during the construction phase and the operational life of the
new berth.
 
SOUTH WALES PORTS
ABP has invested considerably in its South Wales ports over the
past few years, modernizing infrastructure and
supplying customers with specialized storage
solutions and cargo-handling equipment.
The ports play an important role in
supporting the region’s economy, enabling
businesses to compete on a European and global
level.
At Newport, regular shipments of coal, clay
and agribulks are accommodated at the bulk
cargo terminal, which is equipped with two
weighbridges and a wide range of mechanical
handling equipment. Severn Sands operates at an
expanded terminal on the port’s South Dock,
where regular shipments of sand and decorative
aggregates for the construction industry are
handled.
Regular shipments of bulk cargoes are handled
at the Port of Cardiff, including minerals and sea
dredged aggregates, all of which are supported by modern
handling equipment as well as associated plant and equipment.
Pet-products specialist Bob Martin Company operates a
purpose-built processing and national distribution facility at the
port’s Queen Alexandra Dock.
The general-cargo berths at Port Talbot’s inner docks handle
a variety of traffics, including processed slag, sand, cement, steel
and heavy-lift cargoes. This is shipped to destinations including
ABP Teignmouth, saving numerous sensitive lorry miles on
Britain’s roads.
Port Talbot also serves the Corus Steel Works, with the Tidal
Harbour being used predominantly for imports of coal and iron
ore.
At the Port of Swansea, ABP operates the St David’s Agribulk
Terminal on behalf of Yara (UK) Ltd, where fertilizer is
discharged and then screened, bagged and stored for
distribution. Cement imports are handled by Dan Morrissey
Cement (UK) Ltd and the port also provides berths for locally
dredged sand as well as other aggregates.
Scrap metals are an increasingly important part of South
Wales business, with Sims Group UK operating scrap export
terminals in Newport and Swansea. Scrap export terminals are
also operated at Cardiff and Barry by European Metals Recycling
and Dunn Brothers respectively.
All ABP South Wales ports benefit from modern handling
equipment and extensive warehousing. Each have good access
to road and rail infrastructure and have significant development
land available.
 
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
In 2006, the Port of Newport invested in a second coal-loading
siding and a rail-weighing facility for coal trains. Recently, the
port has also started to handle exports of Welsh coal that is
delivered to the port by rail.
In 2008 Newport received grain-storage accreditation under
the prestigious Trade Assurance Scheme for Combinable Crops
(TASCC), allowing the port to handle regular imports and
exports of animal feeds, grains and cereals, for eventual use by
industries ranging from milling to the production of biofuels.
On 21 November, 2007, the government granted consent to
Prenergy Power Ltd for the construction of the Port Talbot
Renewable Energy Plant, the word’s largest biomass plant.
The plant is expected to create 150 jobs in Port Talbot and
have the capacity to power half the homes in Wales. When
complete, it will produce about 70% of the Welsh Assembly
Government’s 2010 renewable energy target.
The deep-water harbour is ideal to service the large bulk
carriers needed to fuel the plant and its operation will see an
additional 2.5–3mt of cargo annually through the port.
At the Port of Swansea, ABP has invested £1.8m in discharge,
warehousing and bagging facilities for Yara (UK) Ltd, which
handles over 50,000 tonnes of agribulks each year. In recent
years Dan Morrissey Cement (UK) Ltd has invested in an
extension to its warehouse and mechanized bagging and
palletizing plant. The port also provides berths for the discharge
of locally dredged sand.
In 2007, the Port of Swansea also invested in two Caterpillar
telehandlers to enhance agribulk-handling operations at the port.
 
SHORT-SEA PORTS
Eight of ABP’s 11 short-sea ports are equipped to handle a
variety of dry bulk cargoes, all of which provide a comprehensive
network of services with highly specialized and niche-market
facilities in addition to general-cargo capabilities.
The Port of Ayr, located on the west coast of Scotland at the
entrance to the Firth of Clyde and within easy access to rail
networks makes it an ideal choice for short-sea and coastal
shipping. The Arran, Kintyre, Carrick and Jura Terminals provide
a total of 18,000m2 of storage for a range of dry bulks and the
port also offers bagging and blending facilities and regularly
handles bulk cargoes such as coal, fertilizer, minerals, grain,
aggregates, sand and animal feed.
The North West Port of Barrow, known as the ‘gateway to
the Lake District’ has worldwide trade links as well as a direct
connection to the national rail network. Regular cargoes
handled at Barrow include locally quarried limestone exports
and imports of sand and aggregates. Silloth, located on the
English side of the Solway Firth, provides easy access to the
north and north east of England, and southern Scotland. As well
as significant tonnages of fertilizers, Silloth also handles grain
imports which are discharged directly into Carrs Flour Mills on
the north side of New Dock.
The Port of Garston on the River Mersey is the premier
short-sea port for the North West and benefits from excellent
road communications directly linked to the port estate. Garston
is well equipped to handle large quantities of bulk cargoes such
as milling grain, animal feed, fertilizer and other agribulks. As
well as over 100,000ft2 of high quality bulk warehousing the port
also offers a range of value-added services including bagging,
blending, rip-and-tip and stock control.
The East Anglian ports of Ipswich, King’s Lynn and Lowestoft
boast convenient locations close to the country’s industrial and
agricultural heartlands, yet within easy reach of the North Sea
shipping lanes. At Ipswich animal feed and grain imports and
exports are handled by The Grain Terminal (Ipswich) and
Clarkson Port Services. The port has high quality, bespoke
warehousing for Origin Fertilisers and Nidera grain, as well as
three aggregates terminals operated by Brett Aggregates, Cemex
Aggregates and Tarmac Quarry Products.
At King’s Lynn, a 6,000-tonne silo and supplementary flat
store for cereals and pulses is operated by Agrilynk Ltd from its
Bentinck Dock facility. Four purpose-built bulk stores, located at
Riverside Quay, offer storage for up to 14,000 tonnes of cereals
and agribulks. A 9,000-tonne capacity store for agribulks is also
in use.
At Lowestoft, a versatile 14,000-tonne capacity silo and
storage facility at Silo Quay is operated by Plasmor (Lowestoft)
Ltd, accommodating a range of bulk materials, including grain and
cement. The port also handles significant quantities of aggregates
imports.
The Port of Teignmouth in Devon is well placed to serve
south west England and has a long-established reputation for
handling dry bulk cargoes including ball clays, animal feedstuffs
and fertilizers.
 
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
ABP’s East Anglian short-sea ports all benefit from strategic
locations of national importance within the UK grain market and
in this respect the ports have seen significant investment over
the past few years.
At the Port of Ipswich, the multi-purpose Coldock Terminal,
which was built in 2000 at a cost of £2.3 million, offers 16,000m2
of GAFTA and UKASTA-registered storage for agribulks and
other commodities. The facility features 18 totally segregated
bays ranging from 460m2 to 1,402m2, with 3,346m2 available for
general use, a computerized stock-control system and
weighbridge facilities. In 2009, Tarmac Ltd built a multi-million
pound asphalt and concrete batching plant on a four-acre quay
site.
Also in 2000 the Alexandra Silo Complex was opened at
the Port of King’s Lynn, representing a £3.8 million investment
by ABP. With a 25,000-tonne storage capacity, the silo is
equipped with the latest technology for receiving and storing
primarily malting barley. Its location within the port estate also
presents opportunities for reducing overall road haulage
movements.
At the Port of Ayr a major new storage and distribution
centre was opened in 2003 following a long-term agreement
between ABP and Peacock Salt. The 3,500m2 warehouse, with
1,500m2 of outside storage, is Peacock’s primary UK operation,
handling the company’s salt imports for various industrial
applications such as winter de-icing, food and water-treatment.
The port of Teignmouth has also seen impressive growth in
trade over recent years. In September 2004 ABP was given the
go-ahead to transform the existing quayside with an investment
of £5 million, and in 2006 The Western Quays was opened.
Engineering work for the development required the
straightening of the quay wall, deepening of the berths, and the
construction of a new 3,000m2 transit shed for the import of
agribulks. The work has allowed room for more frequent
arrivals of the larger ships that now use the port, and has lead to
faster turnaround times for vessels.
In 2008, Teignmouth took delivery of a new Fuchs MHL 380
material-handling crane. The stand-alone machine is the second
of its type to enter service at the port, and is capable of handling
over 300tph.
The significant growth in bulk trade at the Port of Garston in
recent years has enabled ABP to embark on a substantial
investment programme. In 2005 the port signed a 20-year
agreement Hanson Aggregates, opening a £1 million processing
plant in order to handle sea-dredged aggregates for onward
delivery to Hanson’s customers in the construction industry.
In September 2005 the ABP-Maxit Terminal was opened at a
cost of £750,000 after Maxit began importing lightweight
aggregates through Garston in 2002. The handling and
distribution facility comprises 13,000m2 of open and undercover
storage and is equipped with an automated bagging and
palletizing plant.
Also in 2005 ABP Garston opened the Saint Gobain-Weber
UK Ltd Terminal, a first-class handling and distribution facility
which provides high-speed bagging and palletizing of lightweight
aggregates and comprises 13,000m2 of open and undercover
storage.
The principal trade at Silloth is agribulks and the port has
seen steady growth in tonnage levels over recent years.
In April 2008 the Port of Silloth set a new record for tonnage
handled in a single shipment, with the arrival from Holland of
Arklow River. The Irish-registered vessel delivered over 4,150
tonnes of agribulks to Silloth’s New Dock on behalf of port
customer, Carrs Fertilisers Ltd.
The shipment is the first in the port’s history to exceed
4,000 tonnes, but is merely the latest in an ongoing trend of
increased shipment volumes to pass through Silloth, with new
records being set five times in as many years. The year 2007 saw
the port handling over 100,000 tonnes of agribulks, eclipsing all
previous records.