The development of this advanced training tool is driven by Liebherr’s extensive experience in highly immersive crane driver training. Approved by training experts, the range of simulated cranes includes ship to shore, rubber tyre gantry, mobile harbour and offshore cranes.

Focusing on efficiency, safety & costs
Successful port operators are continuously looking for efficient ways of up skilling their employees at the highest safety level while costs including time are kept to a minimum. Liebherr Simulations (LiSIM®) offers sophisticated solutions that tick all the boxes, allowing trainees to significantly improve their skills in a realistic but virtual maritime environment.

Thanks to the virtual environment, damage to maritime equipment and injuries to port personnel are eliminated. Because training does not interfere with day to day port operations and is relatively inexpensive, trainees can spend extended time in the virtual environment, learning instinctively how to react to unexpected situations. This naturally increases safety in real cargo and container handling.

A major benefit of simulator training is the ability to simulate harsh environmental conditions when required. This allows both experienced operators and trainees to gain valuable experience operating under challenging conditions in a safe environment. The resulting increase in operator skills allows for safe and productive crane operation under similar conditions in the real world, boosting port productivity. For example, even though it may be a calm and sunny day, the trainee can practise cargo handling in harsh weather conditions such as snowfall, heavy winds, torrential rain and high waves.

The sophisticated LiSIM® environmental and physics engine allows for an unprecedented level of detail and realism. Thanks to this non-destructive virtual environment, the operator has the opportunity to learn the operational boundaries of the crane without any consequences, gaining useful experience for highly efficient crane operation.

Simulator based training avoids costly downtime and reductions in productivity caused by on-crane training. The emission and fuel-free LiSIM® training solution is in line with an eco-friendly port operation. Moreover, expensive delays in training caused by poor weather conditions are eliminated. Thanks to well-trained operators, simulators have the potential to significantly reduce accidents. Simulator based training is recognised as a cost-saving and safety improving measure.

Although more negotiations are planned this week, and provided the Unions provide a three working days notice for any strike to be legal, work at Port Waratah Coal Services’ (PWCS) three coal terminals will come to a full stop. Workers at the terminal disagree with a new workplace agreement.

The main part of the shipment has been off-loaded and re-loaded onboard sea-going vessels and feeders, which generated around 10,000 movements (that is about 14,000 TEU). This call is a record one in terms of related cargo-handling operations: it corresponds to the overall capacity of a sea giant. Arrived from Singapore, the MSC GENOVA cast off on Sunday bound for Antwerp. It previously called at Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Yantian and Chiwan. It’s also worth noting TNMSC terminal’s development: reception of the fourth quay berth this month and connection to the rail network since April 23rd, with the running of the first trains from that date.

TRP, majority owned and managed by DP World, is one of the most important container terminals in the port of Buenos Aires and leads the rankings of TEU moved during the last 15 years. It is now planning to receive larger container vessels to optimise its 800,000 TEU’s annual capacity. The significant increase in vessel width requires the quay crane geometry to be adapted to extend the reach capacity from 45 meters to 51 meters.

The project, booked in Cargotec’s 2013 first quarter order intake, has seen Kalmar engineering team promptly start work on detailed engineering plans to achieve the commissioning of the two ZPMC cranes before year end.

Marcelo Massa, Managing Director of Kalmar Argentina commented, “With the increasing worldwide movement of containers, port operators are now expecting bigger vessels, some with capacities of up to 18,000 TEU. This puts significant pressure on existing equipment to handle the increased throughput and it’s particularly important with quay cranes, where the critical challenge is to maintain optimum productivity. Boom extension is one of Kalmar’s focus products and we are currently working with many similar inquiries globally, as result of the continuous increasing size of container vessels”.

“Upgrading a crane is a very attractive proposition to many operators as it provides a relatively fast and cost-effective solution to their challenges. Typically, the crane is moved out of the operational area to a separate construction site where the boom is taken down. Extension of the boom is then undertaken at ground level and then re-assembly takes place, including other mechanical and electrical modifications necessary for the crane to operate in extended conditions”.

“TRP selected Kalmar because of our considerable design experience in upgrading any brand of quay crane to provide increased crane height and longer boom dimensions. It takes a considerable amount of expertise and financial capability to deliver this type of complex project.  Kalmar’s competitive edge is further enhanced through our worldwide network of specialists and this assures the customer of local project management at every stage of the project”.

TRP Engineering Manager, Eugenio Calcabrini said: “Maintaining optimum container throughput when larger vessels arrive is of critical importance to us and the concept of increasing the capacity of our existing quay cranes was very appealing. Kalmar has an impressive track record in this specialised area. The Kalmar team produced a very competitive offer and with continuous support, convinced us that their proposal made sound commercial sense”.