The first three of the port’s giant quay cranes, manufactured by Shanghai’s Zhenhua Port Machinery Company (ZPMC), have started their journey from China.

The enormous crane’s boom has a reach that will allow it to pick up containers 25 rows across deck, beyond the width of the world’s largest container ship.

Tim Halhead, London Gateway Operations Director said: “The size of the cranes future proofs the port, allowing London Gateway to handle the next generation of ultra large container ships. These cranes are among the most advanced in the industry, assisting our operatives to deliver a reliable and consistently high level of productivity.”

The cranes are semi-automated, which allows quick and efficient handling of containers.  They are also connected directly to the Terminal Operating System, which tracks the containers and sends work orders to the crane operator. 

The port will start operations on the first berth in Q4 of this year with five quay cranes, and two rail mounted gantry cranes provided by ZPMC, while Cargotec will provide 10 automatic stacking cranes and 18 straddle carriers for the first berth.

London Gateway, the 3.5 million TEU container port will bring significant supply chain savings to importers and exporters. By being located much closer to the vast majority of the UK market, the port will cut delivery costs.

Drewry, the independent maritime consultancy, has indicated that shippers will be able to reduce round-trip transport costs by £59 pounds per container to the Midlands and the North-West and £189 per container for London and the South-East, representing about 90% of the UK deep-sea market.

Known as the “ZoneSafe Proximity Warning System”, heavy equipment operators will receive automatic alerts if pedestrians or other personnel are close to the machinery and at risk.

“We are striving to be the best operating multipurpose terminal in the Americas, and it starts with being the safest” stated APM Terminals Callao Managing Director Henrik Kristensen, adding “We started our R&D last year to learn if this technology could be applicable in a port environment, and after our comprehensive testing program, we are currently installing the ZoneSafe System in all of our Reach Stackers and heavy-lift forklifts”. 

The RFID technology was developed by UK-based Avonwood Developments Ltd. which provides innovative electronic solutions for a wide range of industrial environments. This is the first adaptation of RFID tags and transponders for use at a port facility. With the ZoneSafe System, all yard personnel will wear a small RFID tag which constantly transmits location signals that are picked up by antennae installed in the reach stackers, the large wheeled vehicles which lift and transport empty and loaded containers in the container yard. These terminal workhorse vehicles are known to have certain “blind spots” in which the operators cannot easily see nearby activity. If tag-equipped personnel approach a reach stacker (or similarly equipped forklift) within the designated “safe zone” perimeter an alarm will be activated in the operator’s cab alerting to potential danger.

The innovative technology has been installed on APM Terminals Callao’s reach stackers and forklifts at a cost of $300,000 USD. This investment is part of a $749 million USD overall planned investment for upgrading and modernizing the facility over the course of the 30-year concession period, which began in July 2011. Other recent developments include the ordering of four super-post Panamax cranes and 12 E-RTGs scheduled for delivery in October. Expansion of the quay to 560 meters (1,837 feet) by October 2014, and the dredging of the alongside depth to 16 meters (52 feet) will enable APM Terminals Callao to become an important new hub for the Far East/South American trade with the ability to accommodate vessels of up to 18,000 TEU capacity, and an overall annual container throughput capacity of 2.9 million TEUs when completed.

“Our first priority is always the safety of our personnel, and one effective way to achieve this is to minimize injury risk by separating “man” and “machine” and we believe that the ZoneSafe system a very sound practical solution toward that end” noted APM Terminals Safety Activist and Vice President Martin Poulsen.

As part of the massive development project, APM Terminals Maasvlakte II will use SPARCS N4 to support critical operational productivity and efficiency with real-time execution systems at the terminal.

“APM Terminals Maasvlakte II is an example of what terminal operations will look like in the future—fully-automated, environmentally sustainable and able to receive the growing number of mega container ships entering the market,” said Bill Walsh, president and CEO, Navis. “We are proud that Navis SPARCS N4 was selected as the critical technology component for such a groundbreaking project in the marine terminal industry. We look forward to much success together during the current development phase and beyond.”

Upon completion, APM Terminals Maasvlakte II will operate as a 2.7 million TEU annual throughput capacity container terminal in the Port of Rotterdam. With plans to open in Q4 2014, APM Terminals Maasvlakte II will handle some of the world’s largest container ships as well as support APM Terminals’ Rotterdam facility, one of the largest in Europe. The facility’s use of innovative Lift Automated Guided Vehicles (Lift AGVs) is noted as a market distinction, and will deliver a variety of benefits including reduced emissions and noise levels, optimized fleet management and some of the most innovative safety systems available for terminal operators today.

To meet the terminal’s high demands, APM Terminals selected SPARCS N4 for the TOS due to its widespread use in the industry as well as Navis’ commitment to supporting automated processes and achieving high performance for the facility.

“We are pleased by Navis’ commitment to delivering the SPARCS N4 platform for what will be one of the most advanced automated terminals in the world today,” said Frank Tazelaar, Managing Director, APM Terminals Maasvlakte II. “We look forward to working together with Navis on a successful project to achieve the operational performance levels that we require.”

SPARCS N4 is Navis’ latest generation TOS, allowing customers the flexibility and scalability needed to run their operations – from a single terminal to multiple terminals spanning numerous geographic locations managed from one central location.

Port & Terminal Technology is a high-calibre event which has been running successfully for the last eight years in Europe and is now in its fifth year in the US. We are delighted to confirm that the event is officially supported by the Port of Virginia.

Port & Terminal Technology is a targeted event specially designed for, and aimed at, representatives from operations, maintenance and engineering from port authorities, terminal operators, consultancy firms, dredging contractors, maritime construction firms, consulting engineering firms and suppliers of cargo handling and terminal equipment and those involved in the effective development and operation of container ports and terminals around the globe.

Previous conferences have delivered more than 24 technical presentations from market-leading companies attracting over 140 representatives. 

A niche technical exhibition, comprising of a select handful of elite industry experts, allows for prime exposure and great networking.
Our USP is that we are committed to delivering a high-calibre event, not only in-depth and informative, but stimulating and enjoyable, providing a prime opportunity for discussion, debate and networking!

For more information or to request a copy of the two day programme email claire@mcimedia.com