AutoMoor, Trelleborg’s rope-free automated mooring system which uses smart technologies to enable a faster berthing process and improve safety within the port environment, will be integrated into DHI’s MIKE 21 Mooring Analysis Software (MIKE 21 MA) over a five-year period. The integration will give port operators the ability to analyze the mooring performance of AutoMoor in order to hold a vessel at berth in a given set of environmental and metocean conditions. The collaboration will mark the first time that analysis models of automated mooring systems have been fully integrated into mooring analysis software that customers of the software can purchase with the models built in. This will allow port operators to analyse AutoMoor independently of Trelleborg and apply it to projects in their own timeframe.

Timothy James Womersley, Team Lead Development at DHI, said: “Our collaboration with Trelleborg allows consultancies using DHI’s software to analyse the performance of AutoMoor to help port operators achieve more efficient and safe port operations.

“To date, there have been few, if any, standalone mooring analysis software packages available that can accurately simulate automated mooring systems for all mooring scenarios such as vessel-at-berth, passing vessel, long period wave and ship-to-ship.”

Richard Hepworth, President of Trelleborg’s marine and infrastructure operation, said: “Unlike some mooring analysis software packages which can only model one moveable body alongside a fixed body, MIKE 21 MA models multiple moveable bodies as well as fixed bodies to realistically simulate vessel movements in ports. Most consultancies have to use one or two software packages to create the model environment required for the port application simulation. Therefore, we’re delighted to collaborate with DHI and create this consolidated offering which we’ve no doubt will result in significant improvements in port efficiency.”

The latest release of MIKE 21 MA software will be available later this year.

In the past few months, Konecranes delivered the reachstacker, model SMV 4531 TC5 HVT, and the empty container handler (ECH), model SMV 6/7 ECC 100 DS, to Mon Logistics Group in Bangkok. The company runs facilities in both Bangkok and Chonburi, a port city about 100 kilometers south-east of the capital, specialising in storage and logistics services for cold chain (temperature-controlled supply chains), petrochemicals and containers.

Due to a recent increase in demand for goods transport, Mon Logistics needed the new solutions to manage the balance between productivity, a high standard of customer service and saving costs. To do this, Mon Logistics decided to turn again to Konecranes lift trucks, building on excellent experiences with Konecranes over the last 10 years. This time, they chose a more innovative and eco-efficient solution with the SMV 4531 TC5 HVT reach stacker, equipped with Flow Drive to reduce costs – the solution cuts fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 25%. The same order included an SMV 6/7 ECC 100 DS ECH, which was delivered in mid-August, just a couple of weeks after the reach stacker was handed over. With its ability to stack two empty containers up to 10 tons each, the empty container handler completed Mon’s Konecranes ECH fleet, with a total of 8 units ordered from 2015 to the present. 

In order to monitor the condition of their equipment, all of Mon’s Konecranes units have been fitted with the TRUCONNECT Remote Services system, which enables the real-time collection of operative data such as driving hours, safety alerts, truck performance and fuel consumption to help plan maintenance needs. To maintain the efficiency of their own customer services and improve their productivity even more, Mon Logistics has also signed a service contract with Konecranes that includes both preventive and corrective maintenance on their entire fleet of Konecranes lift trucks. By minimising downtime, regular service will improve Mon’s reliability in the market and make it even more attractive to new customers.

“With the market growing, now is the time to enlarge our fleet to win more business,” says Wikrom Jaruphongsa, Chief Technical Officer at Mon Logistics Group. “We’ve been buying Konecranes units for nearly a decade and have been very satisfied with their excellent equipment, support and service throughout our years of partnership. They’ve helped keep our customers satisfied by offering continuous uptime at our facilities. Konecranes was the natural choice for our next lift truck purchase.”

Another very important issue for the company is respect for the environment. “We are very keen to find new ways to reduce our carbon emissions, and we’re doing our part by choosing eco-efficient materials and products,” says Kanjanee Accaraeakchitt, Operations Director of the Mon Logistics Services Co. Ltd., which manages container deposits for Mon Logistics. “Of course, we want to maintain our quality and performance levels at the same time. In 2016, we were honored to receive the Eco-Driving Award as part of the government’s fuel emission reduction programme, and we want to develop that trend further. This is exactly what Konecranes delivers with their Flow Drive reachstacker.”

Konecranes Thailand Sales Engineer Nithit Phairatphiboon said: “We’re proud to be part of Mon’s expansion project. Every day we build more trust with the Group through our service activities, making sure they and their final customers receive the best service possible.”