SHORTSEA CRANE OPERATIONS: Lifting a Port to Prosperity
A Liebherr LHM 420 Crane is at the heart of a rapidly expanding shortsea shipping success story. Reliability is the key for a port that’s turned the corner, with nowhere to go but ‘up.’Way back in January of 1996, I moved to Richmond, Virginia from Houston, Texas. Still very much in the maritime business as a cargo surveyor and ship expeditor, the Port of Richmond intrigued me, every time I drove past it on I-95. Eventually, I got a tour of the struggling port, courtesy of then port director and retired USCG Captain Marty Moynihan. Moynihan, an energetic executive, was keen to expand the port’s horizons.Back then, as much as half of the port’s meager business was tobacco shipping to and from Philip Morris, just across the street.
APM Terminals on Trends in North America
North American ports must adapt to changes in customer demand and future industry trajectory, said APM Terminals head of Hub Terminals, Jack Craig. “The customer landscape has changed and become much more competitive. We as an industry need to work together, adapt and respond or watch the cargo move elsewhere,” according to Craig. The vessel alliances now reshaping the industry have been a success for ocean carriers and their quest for cost savings, asset efficiency and economies of scale. “Larger alliances, larger vessels and larger port call volumes per ship are a catalyst to improve performance at ports. In Elizabeth, New Jersey – APM Terminals is one of the largest container terminals in the Port of New York & New Jersey port complex…
Public-Private Project Promises to Revive America’s Marine Highway
Plaquemines and American Patriot Holdings plan new container port-vessel system. Plans are underway for a new 4,200-acre intermodal container terminal within the Port of Plaquemines Harbor and Terminal District. The project, a partnership (Exclusivity Agreement) between the Port and American Patriot Holdings (APH) calls for the development of a logistics system for “vessel operations comprised of deep-water docking at the Pointe Celeste Container Terminal and multiple upriver terminals.” That’s the Mississippi River, of course, and initial upriver terminals could be sited in Memphis and St.
Liebherr: Italian Deliveries Reached a Record Level in 2016
Last year Liebherr Maritime Cranes delivered nine mobile harbor cranes, four reachstackers, three rail mounted gantry cranes and one ship-to-shore container crane to various Italian ports. Since Liebherr has been engaged in the manufacturing of maritime cargo handling equipment, Italian ports proved to be reliable and valuable partners. The first mobile harbor crane was already delivered in 1974 and over the years the maritime cargo handling fleet operating in Italy has constantly been increased.
Allied Marine Crane Outfits R/V Neil Armstrong
The U.S. Navy’s research vessel Neil Armstrong (AGOR-27), scheduled for completion this year, is equipped with a modern array of oceanographic research equipment. To handle this equipment, Allied Marine Crane, a division of Allied Systems, Co., was chosen to design and manufacture two cranes, one A-frame, one davit, two handling systems and two hydraulic power units. Allied Marine Crane equipment was specified based on their history with research equipment handling, their proven design and build capabilities, and strong working relationship with marine winch supplier Markey Machinery.
Cavotec Secures €11.5m in Port Equipment Orders
Cavotec announced it has received orders for its port technologies in Australia, Indonesia, Oman, Portugal and Turkey, and for two major shipping lines, with a combined value of more than EUR 11.5 million. Cavotec will supply eight MoorMaster automated mooring units for installation at a container berth at the Port of Salalah in Oman, where a number of MoorMaster units have been in service for several years. MoorMaster is a vacuum-based automated mooring technology that eliminates the need for conventional mooring lines.
American Crane Promote Norheim Executive V-P
American Crane & Equipment Corporation, an Eastern Pennsylvania based manufacturer of overhead electric cranes and hoist says it has appointed Karen Norheim, formerly Vice President of Marketing and Information Technology, as Executive Vice President. Karen Norheim joined the company in 2002 and has served as Vice President of Marketing and Information Technology for the past six years. As VP of Marketing and IT, Norheim coordinated marketing activities and established network and computer systems for this large manufacturing corporation. Norheim studied at Pennsylvania State University, earning two undergraduate degrees in Marketing/International Business and International Studies. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Information Science and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
Jinhai Heavy Industry Secures Another Invention Patent
Jinhai Heavy Industry of China has received patent rights for its large ship superstructure hoisting method after a state intellectual property review. The patent rights is for twenty years. The invention patent of large ship superstructure assembly method, is based on the weight and center of gravity of the whole superstructure, gantry crane equipment parameters, such as wire rope length and angle of precise calculation, according to the weight lifting point configuration and the overall design rings, the overall finite element model is established, a comprehensive check and correction, finally complete the safe and efficient lifting operation…
Hooked onto Asia’s Largest Floating Cranes
MAN Diesel’s organization has landed another engine contract in the specialized segment for large floating cranes and construction barges. A newly designed (DLV4400) heavy-lift floating crane from Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Co Ltd (ZPMC) with a 4,400 ton lifting capacity will be powered by 7 x MAN Diesel 9L32/40 GenSets. The total installed output of 31.5 MW will supply propulsion power, power for maneuvering, for the crane activities, and to the hotel accommodation load for 250 persons. The vessel, which is designed to propel itself at up to 12 knots in trial condition, will also be equipped with a dynamic positioning system classed GL DynPos–AutR.
Crane Load Monitoring & Measurement Systems
For the past twenty-five years Water Weights, as part of the IMES Group has been supplying products and services to the crane industry. This experience has given the knowledge first hand of the operation and requirements of different types of crane equipment. Building on the experience, we are able to design and build user-friendly Crane Load Systems of top quality. The unique approach allows cost effective systems to not only be reliable, but also easy to install, calibrate and maintain. Water Weights has made breakthroughs in state of the art digital electronics. No longer is it necessary to load and unload a crane many times in order to set all of the system parameters.
USCG Issues Bulletin on Crane Safety
Recently, an incident occurred where a 1740-ton shipboard mounted crane boom collapsed. There was a failure of the coupling between the boom winch motor and the wire winch drum. Improperly set brakes on the crane’s winch drums and an inoperable overspeed trip on the winch drum compounded a relatively minor mechanical failure into a catastrophic casualty. This incident resulted in millions of dollars of damage to the crane, crane equipment and the vessel. The vessel was in the process of making a light lift using the shipboard crane when the crane boom started to lower uncontrollably. The crane operator attempted to stop the downward motion of the crane boom by applying the crane’s braking system, but was unsuccessful.
