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Mechanical Technology — June 2015
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Robotics, automation and mechatronics
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T
he automated mooring system (AMS) at the Port of Ngqura in
South Africa’s east coast is poised to improve port efficiency
and safety, cementing the deep-water port’s position as a
leading trans-shipment hub for the sub-Saharan region.
The new mooring system at the Port of Ngqura comprises 26
mooring units, the last of which arrived at the port in March 2015.
“Procured from global engineering group, Cavotec, the mooring
units were designed, custom manufactured and installed to meet
the specific environmental conditions of the Port of Ngqura. They
will complement manual berthing teams at the port by stabilising
container vessels on the quayside at the click of a button, reducing
docking and undocking times from between 10 and 40 minutes
to less than 10 seconds,” says Transnet National Ports Authority
(TNPA) chief executive, Richard Vallihu.
Port manager, Mpumi Dweba, adds that Ngqura experiences
significant long wave effects and strong winds, particularly in the
winter months, which frequently cause berthed vessels to move ex-
cessively, impacting cargo operations, safety and the port’s efficiency.
“This unique vacuum based automated mooring technology
is used in only a few ports internationally, but will be the first in
the South African port system, proving once again that the Port of
Ngqura is the leader in deploying new technologies to improve port
operations and the safety of vessels,” she says.
Technicians from Cavotec have been on site since November
2014 assembling and testing units at Berth D100, one of four
berths at the Ngqura Container Terminal that will be equipped with
the technology. Dweba said the pilot berth was selected because it
was most severely affected by weather conditions.
Local skills transfer was a central requirement of the contract and
Cavotec will upskill local mechanical and electrical companies to
provide ongoing technical support, maintenance and repairs to the
port. In addition, Ngqura maintenance staff has received specialised
training, while operational training will take place after the units
have all been installed.
Cavotec’s AMS technology uses remote controlled vacuum pads,
recessed in or mounted on the quayside, to moor and release vessels
in seconds, increasing productivity. It also dramatically improves
safety and operational efficiency.
Says Ngqura Port Engineer, Gerrit du Plessis: “A unique capabil-
ity of the AMS is that the vessel will be kept almost static whilst
alongside the quay, with movements restricted to within 50 mm.
This is made possible by the design of the pneumatic AMS units,
which can move both vertically and horizontally in response to
wind and wave action, as well as ‘walk’ up and down the vessel
to accommodate tidal variations.”
q
Port of Ngqura’s automated
mooring system
The new automated mooring units along the Ngqura quayside.