This brings the total number of cranes at Tauranga Container Terminal to seven. Of these, six are Post Panamax, including three Super Post Panamax cranes capable of handling the largest ships anticipated to trade with New Zealand in the medium term. The Super Post Panamax cranes have the ability to service vessels 18 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) wide.

The addition of this new crane allows the Port to increase crane intensity on large ships to ensure high vessel productivity.

The trailer based, diesel powered units will have a rated discharge capacity of 300t/h and are scheduled for delivery in mid-May 2014 and late August 2014.

“A second order, within two months of the first, is a significant vote of confidence for the operational advantages delivered by Siwertell mobile unloaders,” says Jörgen Ojeda, Director for Siwertell mobile unloaders. “Our customer plans to use the Siwertell units for cement unloading operations at several sites along the Libyan coast, demonstrating the flexibility of our road mobile systems. Not only are they easy to move from one port to another but once at the new location, the unloader can be prepared for work very quickly by just one person.”

Further factors contributing to the orders were the well documented reliability of Siwertell mobile unloaders, along with their high unloading capacity and low operational and maintenance costs.

Each unloader will be equipped with a double bellows system and dust filter, ensuring that they deliver consistently high levels of efficiency and environmental protection.

“As with the first order, we take great pride in being part of the re-construction of Libya, in view of the area’s recent history,” Mr Ojeda adds.

Caption: From left: Mr Jörgen Ojeda, Director for Siwertell mobile unloaders, Mr Ufuk Erden, Technical Consultant, Tracim Cimento San. A.S and Mr A. Zeki Cicim, General Director, Mussa Insaat Dis Ticaret Ltd. Sti. – Contract signage in Iberia

Ahead of the International Maritime Organisation’s Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting (MEPC 66) next week, it is vital that shippers have a place in the global debate on the most appropriate means to reduce ghg from ships.  This has become a matter of greater urgency with the European Commission’s proposals for a monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system from 2018 for all large ships that use EU ports, irrespective of where the ships are registered.  GSF expects the MRV will be the main topic of discussion on maritime emissions at MEPC 66 and how it could potentially be applied at a global level. 
 
Chris Welsh, Secretary General of GSF said:
 
“We are at a particularly critical time in finding the solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime industry.  The GSF is convinced shippers can help influence the debate in a positive way and ensure there is an effective and cost efficient approach.  In recent months, we have been heartened to see a move away from financial market-based measures by the IMO such as a bunker levy or emissions trading system which would simply pass costs to the shipper without encouraging improvements in carbon efficiency.”
 
GSF would ultimately like to see a global solution and is strongly urging the EU to pursue its initiative through the IMO.  The Commission’s MRV is a good starting point to develop measures that focus on recording and reporting carbon emissions and monitoring fuel consumption of ships.  Measures that focus on data collection will support shippers’ needs as they are increasingly required to accurately calculate their ghg emissions along the supply chain.
 
Welsh added:
 
“An eventual global solution must be agreed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as shipping remains a global industry.  The MRV system from the Commission will contribute towards reaching an international agreement.”
 
GSF will attend MEPC 66 and has published its Maritime Emissions Policy Briefing this week examining the latest developments within maritime emission policy debate and the important role of the shipper in that debate. 
 

For Van Oord, this means best-in-class service at all times and in every location, lower failure rates and fewer repairs – which are also carried out more quickly and efficiently. As a result, substantial cost savings are expected to be realised.

“The crucial benefit of this agreement is that it enables greater efficiency with regard to maintenance. The aim is to enhance the technical performance of our engines and optimise overhaul processes, which together will result in lower energy consumption and a cut in emissions. The reduction of CO2 and SOx is of vital importance, and Van Oord is committed to delivering a valuable contribution to that goal. The agreement reflects the new Van Oord strategy in which we want to be sustainable and an economical fleetmanager,” says Jaap de Jong, Director, Ship Management at Van Oord.

“Under this contract, we will service 140 turbochargers during a three-year period,” says Rolf Bosma, General Manager ABB Turbocharging Benelux. “Van Oord had been looking for a maintenance partner for ships’ engine turbochargers for some time. We have clustered a number of services into a ‘value added’ package. For each individual location and vessel, we create tailor-made planning, and Van Oord can precisely manage its budgets around this.”

The main focus of the agreement is to ensure Van Oord’s fleet is available to the highest possible degree, with minimal downtime and low CO2 emissions. This is achieved by efficient maintenance and, wherever possible, continuous improvement in the technical performance of turbochargers. Within the dredging industry, hardware is generally under considerable strain and downtime is very costly. As a ‘turbo’ is responsible for some 70% of an engine’s total power, optimal and enduring performance is vital.

Specific knowledge & global network
“Van Oord has selected ABB partly because we are an OEM for turbochargers, but mainly because we have a high level of specific knowledge of all components and systems and can deliver all original parts immediately from stock,” continues Rolf Bosma. “Furthermore, we have extensive experience in the dredging industry.”

“Through the ABB Turbocharging service network, over a hundred service stations all over the world can take immediate action at any time. This means Van Oord can always rely on on-site support anywhere in the world, as well as central support and co-ordination from Rotterdam. This allows us to keep a close eye on trends, planning and budgets. We can perform maintenance without having to shut down installations for long periods, and we can also very rapidly provide a solution on the spot in case of emergency,” concludes Bosma.

The contract is in line with Van Oord’s strategy to manage overall costs of maintenance, fuel and asset management with the greatest possible efficiency. It is effectively an extension of good experiences during previous collaborations. ABB and Van Oord have worked together on various projects in the past, such as the Princess Amalia Offshore Windfarm at IJmuiden. In the future, both parties may cooperate more extensively in the area of energy conservation.