The roundtable will discuss the findings from the latest Barometer Report from Trelleborg Marine Systems, and the company is now looking for port owners, operators, contractors and consultants to take part.

Trelleborg’s Barometer Report contains the results of a regular industry survey, which seeks to gain insight into the issues that are impacting port infrastructure. Calling on the views of hundreds of port owners, operators, engineering consultants and contractors, the report seeks to understand the challenges they are facing and what they think the future holds for the marine industry.

The latest Report reveals the most optimistic picture of infrastructure investment since the inception of the Report in 2010, with the vast majority of those surveyed expecting to see increased capital and operational expenditure budgets over the next twelve months.

Richard Hepworth, President of Trelleborg Marine Systems, said: “Since we launched the first Barometer Report back in 2010, we’ve found that diminishing or static budgets have meant strategic investment in port infrastructure has suffered. Procurement was focused around low cost solutions that didn’t take in to account performance and value over the entire product lifecycle.”

The roundtable seeks to address whether, with optimism and demand returning, ports are acting quickly enough to make up lost ground. It will discuss issues such as which aspects of port development are most in need, which regions are leaders and laggards, how terminals will cope with larger vessels and increased throughput, and whether there are sufficient controls in place to regulate the market against substandard suppliers of equipment.

“This year, for the first time, we’re inviting port owners, operators, contractors and consultants to have an in depth discussion on the results of the report,” continues Hepworth.

If you’re a port owner, operator, contractor or engineering consultant that’s attending the 33rd PIANC World Congress in June, Trelleborg Marine Systems would like to hear from you.  To have your say on the issues affecting the industry, register your interest in the Port Performance Roundtable now http://ow.ly/wMB7R.

Trelleborg Marine Systems is a Platinum AGA sponsor and exhibitor at the 33rd PIANC World Congress 2014, in San Francisco, California, U.S. The PIANC World Congress 2014 takes place on 1 to 5 June 2014 at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis. Visit Trelleborg on stands 400 and 402.

With a maximum lifting capacity of 200 t each, the large cranes in the G HMK 8710 variant are the most powerful mobile harbour cranes in the Port of Antwerp and will help Zuidnatie to efficiently handle containers and general and project cargo.
For handling particularly heavy project loads up to 400 t, both Model 8 cranes will be equipped with the Terex Gottwald tandem lift system, which allow the cranes to perform full 400 ton capacity tandem lift operations and avoid any capacity reductions. In addition, both cranes will be equipped with hybrid drives for cost-effective and environmentally friendly operation.

Promoting growth with a powerful machine

With the significant upgrade of the capabilities of its crane fleet, the stevedoring company is seeing consistent growth, as Marcel Dubourg, CEO at Zuidnatie, explains at the ceremony on the occasion of the Breakbulk Europe trade fair: “With the Model 8 cranes, our fleet is not only becoming more powerful but also more flexible. And because both cranes in combination can deal with loads up to 400 t, we are also in the position to offer our customers new handling solutions.” So with TPS, Zuidnatie is consciously relying on a supplier with a proven track record over many years, Dubourg continues: “We have been working very successfully with TPS for over a decade. It was therefore a logical decision for us, once again, to use the technology of TPS, since these are cranes of the top performance class.” The crane fleet from Zuidnatie currently comprises nine mobile harbour cranes from Terex Port Solutions.

Systematic expansion of the fleet and its performance

Giuseppe Di Lisa, Vice President Sales & Services at Terex Port Solutions, also sees the trust placed in TPS as an endorsement of the complementary product and service portfolio with which customers could grow: “The first cranes that we delivered to Zuidnatie were smaller machines followed by a Model 6 crane in 2008.” This fleet was subsequently supplemented with, among others, two Model 7 cranes. These had been supplied to DPW Breakbulk in 2005, which was taken over by Zuidnatie in 2012. “With the Model 8 cranes, we are again helping a long-standing customer to enhance the performance of his fleet and to set two further visible signs of technology in a port where we feel we belong,” Di Lisa continues. Signs that are being perceived, as Marc van Peel, Chairman and Alderman of the Antwerp Port Authority, emphasized at the inauguration ceremony: “The upgrade of the Zuidnatie fleet is again setting new standards for mobile harbour cranes and must therefore also be seen as an upgrade of the entire Port of Antwerp.”

Tandem lift assistant permits utilization of full lifting capacity

The tandem lift assistant system, which is an optional feature either requested on new cranes or added to existing cranes via a retrofit package, permits computer-controlled synchronised operation of both cranes by a single crane driver. The data between the cranes is transferred via a secure radio link that is tried and tested in many industrial applications. In this way, the usual risk factors in tandem operation – such as unequal loading on the two cranes, lateral pull, overturning moment or differences in speeds – are monitored. In the event that these factors are inadequately monitored, the regulations in force here stipulate a reduction in the overall lifting capacity of both cranes by 20 % or more. But in accordance with standard ISO 12480-1, the full lifting capacity of both cranes can still be utilized when using the tandem lift assistant system. Two cranes of the same size can be used, as in the case of Zuidnatie, as well as cranes of different sizes, as practised at the Kiel Canal Port of Rendsburg, among others.

 Hybrid drives significantly reduce fuel consumption

The hybrid drives, with which both Model 8 cranes will be equipped, each include a diesel generator and a short-term energy storage system (ultracaps). Energy recovered from lowering and braking motions of the crane is stored in the ultracaps. This energy is made available to the internal power system of the cranes for the next operating cycle, i.e. when it is required. TPS cranes with hybrid drive help customers to realize significant fuel savings. At the same time, pollutant emissions and the need for servicing the diesel generator are also considerably reduced.

The improvement projects at the Port Authority’s two container terminals will deepen the channels from 40 feet to 45 feet, matching the depth of the Houston Ship Channel, so the container terminals can realize the benefits of the HSC widening and deepening project completed in 2005. The project will also widen or realign the channels by up to 100 feet to better accommodate larger ships that are expected to call with increasing frequency.

“This is great news,” said Port Commission Chairman Janiece Longoria, “We are investing in the future of our port. The projects demonstrate our commitment to facilitating commerce. I sincerely congratulate the Port Authority staff for its diligent efforts working with PHA’s stakeholders, the community and the Corps to get these projects readied for construction.”

PHA expects to award the $68 million construction contract to Orion Construction this week and start construction and dredging soon afterward. The work includes modification of the existing Bayport and Barbours Cut channels and berths and increasing capacity of a placement area for future dredged material.

“PHA is pleased that we will be awarding a contract at an excellent, competitive price,” said Executive Director Roger Guenther. “Overall, the project has really progressed at a quick pace. The federal approval of assumption of maintenance, which means the Corps of Engineers will resume responsibility for the channel after PHA’s improvements, was a great team effort between the Corps and PHA on a complicated process that has taken only 18 months.”

The Port Authority is funding the projects at its sole cost to ensure the channels improvements are available as soon as possible to better accommodate larger, more efficient container ships, and in advance of the opening of an expanded Panama Canal in 2016. The work is expected to be completed in the second quarter of next year.

As part of ongoing investment in its U.S. operations, Trelleborg Marine Systems will relocate all of its existing employees from its current site in Clear Brook, Virginia, to operate from Berryville. The development of the state-of-the-art facility is expected to be complete towards the end of 2014.

The new site will house a 45,000 square foot manufacturing facility for foam-based marine fenders and buoys, as well as an 9,000 square foot sales and business development office.

Richard Hepworth, President of Trelleborg Marine Systems, says: “At Trelleborg’s marine systems operation, our customer focused approach ensures that we are continuously looking for ways to improve our offering. It is essential that we are best placed to meet ever-growing customer demands, both in terms of capacity and developing innovative, cost-effective solutions that enhance safety, and improve efficiency and performance in demanding marine environments.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to accelerating performance in a sustainable way, Trelleborg is also investing heavily in new, advanced polyurethane spraying and foam winding equipment, which will further increase production efficiencies.

The facility will also contain a new state-of-the-art high speed test rig capable of testing both full size rubber and foam fenders in accordance with PIANC guidelines.

“Testing is critical to ensuring our portfolio remains at the leading edge. To complement our world leading materials testing programme, we’re adding full scale testing facilities which will ensure products perform above and beyond customer expectations. Whilst our Clear Brook facility has served us well, the market is evolving rapidly and our commitment to quality means we need to keep pace through truly cutting edge capabilities,” continues Hepworth.

Trelleborg’s marine systems operation has recently opened a new regional sales office in Houston, Texas, U.S. Joining colleagues from Trelleborg’s offshore operation in its facility. The Houston office will serve the local U.S. and Gulf of Mexico region across all five product areas of Trelleborg’s marine operations: marine fender systems, oil & gas transfer technology, vessel technology, docking & mooring and marine products.

As the Trelleborg Marine Systems representative in the global capital for oil and gas, the new office will offer business development support, on behalf of the whole business unit, to global projects requiring assistance from within the region.

Both the new manufacturing facility in Berryville and the new Houston office will be strongly supported by the engineering and design center of excellence in Ahmedabad, India.