TTS Smooths Ramp Operation

Following a request from Stena Line Scandinavia and the Port of Kiel to overcome a defect on the port’s upper deck RoRo ramp, Gothenburg-based TTS Port Equipment AB has now successfully completed the project with zero downtime to the ramp’s operation. The two RoPax vessels for which the ramp was designed, M/S Scandinavia and M/S Germanica, serve the Stena Line route between Gothenburg and Kiel. The defect, a protruding ramp knuckle, was presenting an obstacle to trailers which were being scraped underneath as they passed over the knuckle. Flow of traffic over the ramp was therefore impeded, causing unnecessary delay. TTS’ recommendation for the upgrading of the ramp included the optimisation of transition angles for the RoRo cargo by lowering the ramp and making other small but important alterations to the ramp’s geometry to improve traffic flow.

These modifications have subsequently halved the unloading time. Work was carried out such that both vessels were able to maintain standard timetables. A significant portion of the project management was to guarantee the normal flow of traffic twice each day. In addition to the ramp modification, TTS has installed a new support structure for the passenger gangway on the vessels’ shell. This will improve the gangway’s safe operation.