for Ports and Shipyards

A huge number of possibilities to use FLUIDTS are in ports and shipyards to optimize operations, in major repair and modernization projects of cranes as well as in combination with the sale of pre-owned cranes.

Typical fields to use the FLUIDTS technology:

• Crane moves due to port/terminal optimization
• For slipping of cranes if erected in the backyard of a terminal
• Unloading/discharging from a barge if the ship-to-shore crane is supplied fully-erected
• Change of the order of cranes on the quay line to optimize terminal operations
• Backslipping of the crane from the quay to the yard to carry-out repair or modernization works
• Crane moves in combination with the sale of pre-owned cranes
• Move of fully-erected vessels or ship sections

Examples:

Crane Ballet in Hamburg, Germany

In 2005 Konecranes was awarded the order by HHLA to move 5 ship-to-shore cranes due to the optimization of the container terminal Burchardquay. The ship-to-shore cranes had different dimensions in outreach, lifting height and capacity. The intention of HHLA was to use these cranes on specific berths with the maximum draught for the biggest vessels. The ideal solution for the move of the cranes was a combination of a barge and the FLUIDTS system, with few implications for the ongoing terminal operations. The other solution -discussed at the beginning of the project- was the land transportation through the terminal. With this solution HHLA would have had major additional costs for emptying the yard of container (and moving the container back after the move) as well as the widening of flood protection gates to get the ship-to-shore cranes through these gates. Internally HHLA called the project "Crane Ballet".

MAN-Takraf railway cranes for Sydney, Australia

In August and December 2006 Konecranes unloaded 5 Rail Mounted Gantry Cranes in Sydney from a barge using the FLUIDTS system. The cranes were manufactured and erected by MAN-Takraf in Indonesia and shipped to Sydney fully erected. After unloading, the cranes were moved 370 m with FLUIDTS to the railway terminal inside the Patrick's container terminal. Based on the prior experience of the terminal operator with the FLUIDTS system, the unloading and long distance move was carried out very quickly and successively.

Miami, Florida USA -Curve move of ship-to-shore cranes

The Port of Miami is well-known for the departures of cruise vessels to the Caribbean Sea but the container traffic to South and Central America is currently booming. As a result of Konecranes' economical and more efficient methods, Konecranes was the selected contractor (among domestic competitors) to participate in the international tender to move 3 ship-to-shore cranes from pier 5 to the new pier 6. The piers are connected under an angle of approx. 22° and operated with independent crane rails. This required either a curve move or the move in connection with a sea-going barge. Konecranes carried out the land transportation and first turned the cranes at the existing position, then moved the cranes parallel to the rails of the new pier 6 and finally moved the cranes forward onto the new rails.

 

Ceres, Amsterdam - FLUIDTS in combination with a big repair/modernization

In November 2005 a ship-to-shore crane was damaged by a vessel during a storm. The main damages were at the boom which did not allow further crane operation under safe and economical conditions. Furthermore, the position of the crane relative to other cranes at the dock, made the long-term repair at the existing position impossible due to terminal operations. After a detailed inspection and structural analysis, Konecranes was awarded the order in February 2006 to backslip the damaged crane, dismantle the boom, and to foreslip the damaged crane back to the rails after another crane passed by on the rails. Being now at one end in the row of cranes, the damaged crane could be repaired without hassle. In August 2006 the new boom was installed and the necessary load tests were carried out, witnessed by an approved crane engineer.