Background Image
Previous Page  33 / 44 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
Previous Page 33 / 44 Next Page
Page Background

Mechanical Technology — June 2015

31

Robotics, automation and mechatronics

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.