The contract, which was signed at the end of 2009, was to design and implement the entire ship-to-shore interface for the port including linkspans, stop fenders, auto-moorings and an elevated walkway.

“The operation has gone very well,” said Mikael Jimmerfors contracts manager for TTS Port Equipment. “We used a fully automated mooring system which is installed along the pier, comprising two auto-mooring devices, each consisting of a vertical moving unit and two hydraulic cylinders to create the mooring force.”

The adjustable upper- and lower-deck linkspans have been designed for use by a variety of RoPax vessels using a stern approach, with the option of bow approach also facilitated by the flexible solution. Both linkspans will be operated by means of hydraulic cylinders housed in fixed towers, one each side of the linkspans.

“It’s a very, very flexible system, which dramatically decreases turnaround times,” Jimmerfors added. “This was a key ingredient for Stena Line and something we have ensured throughout the process – right from the beginning.

The operation, also took into consideration work needed in Belfast, including vessel ramps and layout design, as well as shore adjustments to ensure that all ship-to-shore activity could be properly accommodated. While a new flexible walkway was installed, similar to the one at Loch Ryan, TTS also equipped the berth with a stop fender for bow approach and a semi automated stern mooring to adapt the vessels’ mooring at the short quay. 

Meanwhile, the new port at Loch Ryan, which will handle the largest ships ever to sail between Scotland and Northern Ireland, is part of a £200m rolling investment programme by Stena Line, including the development of the new port in Belfast, which opened in 2008.  

“Stena works extensively with TTS throughout Sweden, Belfast and now Loch Ryan,” said Ian Thompson, senior chief engineer at Stena Line. “It’s a good working relationship and we use their expertise in many aspects of our operation. 

“The automatic moorings are a way forward for mooring vessels with speed and it will help us with our turnaround speed immensely.”

The new port will be opened by Dan Sten Olsson, chairman of Stena Line, along with first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond and deputy first minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuiness on Friday 25 November.

ENDS

Two more cranes are due to be delivered in early 2012. The cranes will be deployed in the country’s most important port, Lae, and in the capital city of Port Moresby, which is also the second-largest port.

“The four new Gottwald Mobile Harbour Cranes are a milestone in our history and of crucial importance to us”, enthuses Brian Riches, CEO of PNG Ports Corporation Ltd. “This high-performance, reliable technology will assist us to fulfil and expand our role as the main regional hub for maritime cargo handling and raw materials export.” The cranes will enable the efficient handling of bulk materials, containers and general cargo to supply our inhabitants and the island’s industry.

Through this order, Demag Cranes has consolidated and expanded its position in the region, which is the interface between Asia and Australia. Papua New Guinea is the latest addition to a list of over a hundred countries in which Gottwald Mobile Harbour Cranes are in operation.

Located in the west of Port 2000, the new TNMSC terminal will extend along 1,400 metres of quay. In early 2012, the first containers could be handled there. At present, MSC vessels in Le Havre berth at ‘quai Bougainville’.

Stephan Snijders – General Manager of MSC France – says he is « delighted that development has started with a first delivery, in early 2012, pending the delivery of the other berths by late 2012. The new facilities will enable our biggest vessels to benefit from a guaranteed draught of 16m. This will bring, without any doubt, business increase and development of MSC in Le Havre».

TNMSC and SETO companies have selected the teams of the ‘Grand Port Maritime du Havre’ (port of Le Havre authority), and more especially its “Buildings, and infrastructure works” Department, to carry out the project management for the works.

Like the Port 2000 terminals already in operation, this new extension will provide the 2nd world biggest shipping line with installations suited for the operation of the giants of the seas calling at Le Havre without tidal constraints.

The TNMSC company has designed its terminal at Port 2000 under the focus of multimodality. The terminal will especially include a traffic exchange area dedicated to road traffic, railway lines located in the rear of the terminal as well as the operation of waterway solutions, in order to consolidate all mass transport flows. Christian de Tinguy – General Manager of TNMSC – confirms the main challenges of this project: “the installation by TNMSC of a major Hub for MSC in Le Havre ‘Port 2000’ facilities marks a new stage of development of the shipping line in Le Havre. The 1,400-metre quay development, which means for TNMSC / SETO a total investment of 160 million euro, will enable MSC to have any kind of vessels of the fleet – including 14,000 TEU ships – calling at the same wharf whatever the time and tide. The number of jobs generated by the terminal operation will be in line with the expected traffic growth.”

As Laurent Castaing reminded it recently, « a certain number of investment decisions – pending – now reach a successful end with the implementation of the reform and the new deal of Le Havre port, thus providing significant growth prospects in the port of Le Havre. The decision made by TNMSC to strengthen their presence by developing their new facilities strengthens our ambition to provide the best service to our international customers. »

The increase of container handling capacity is a major step and brings new growth prospects for the French port leader for containerised trades. This is indeed a response to the ambitious objectives set by the reform of French ports and to the strategic lines of the Grand Port Maritime du Havre: that is doubling container traffic by the years 2020, to reach 5 million TEU.