The integration of full-mission simulators #1 and #2 – as well as the institute’s tugboat simulator modules – offers bridge officers, pilots and students a modern and realistic training experience. MITAGS now has the capabilities of integrating up to ten, full and part task simulators into one simulation exercise. “The NTPRO 5000 images are clearer and brighter, and the contrasts are enhanced due to the increased lumens from the most advanced projectors that are available for our theater dome,” said Friend. “Additionally, the software allows the integration of the two full-mission bridges so that multiple vessels can be included as components of the training and evaluation process. The software includes the multi-functional displays and has improved environmental interaction with the database and ship models.”

The Transas Navigational NTPRO 5000 is a next generation simulation system. It encompasses the geometry of objects, their relative position, the reflection capability of materials, three-dimensional motion and the earth’s curvature.  Its integration capabilities, improvements in mathematical models, modern built-in VHF, intercom, voice communications and enhanced instructor station along with CCTV, which allows for synchronized playback for debriefing , is why MITAGS-PMI invested in the complete upgrade of its simulator systems over the past few years.

Year-to-date, the port has handled 1,721,417 TEU vs. 1,599,784 TEUs handled during the same period last year, an increase of 7.6 percent.

“October was our ninth consecutive month of growth and it would have been greater had we not had some cargo diverted to the West Coast as a result of the strike that was scheduled to begin at the beginning of October, and we had some vessel calls at the end of the month that were pushed into November as a result of Hurricane Sandy,” said Rodney W. Oliver, the Virginia Port Authority’s interim executive director. “Had we not had those disruptions, our volumes would have been even better; we’ll recapture that cargo and see it reflected in the November totals.”

Total rail containers handled in October were 33,031, which is an 8.2 percent increase when compared with last October. The year-to-date rail containers total is 314,050 vs. 274,777, respectively, for the same period last year; an increase of 14.3 percent.

The number of containers moved between the Port of Richmond and the Hampton Roads Harbor on the 64 Express barge service in October was 206, a decrease of 12 percent when compared with the same month last year. The reduction in barge traffic is normal at this time of year as a large user of that service begins annual maintenance and repair work on its production line and reduces its output, Oliver said.

The port, owned by South Asia Gateway Terminals (Pvt) Ltd., and better known as SAGT,  is one of the world’s largest and, last year, hit a record throughput of 1.96 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units).  The terminal is located in the port of Colombo at the renowned and historic Queen Elizabeth Quay. The port’s natural geographic location is strategically positioned on the main East-West shipping route, linking the Far East with Africa, Europe, and the East Coast of the US, providing ideal connections to the trade in the Indian sub-continent. This makes the Port of Colombo a superb strategic hub.

As part of SAGT’s constant striving to improve its health, safety and environmental management systems, the company looked at methods for reducing fuel usage within the port and focussed on crane diesel usage.  In April 2012, with the help of Control Techniques India, SAGT ran a pilot project to evaluate the fuel saving potential of Emerson Control Techniques’ RIS.GA system.  The results surpassed expectations and an order was immediately placed for RIS.GA systems to be installed on all its RTGs and MHCs – 28 systems in total.

With the RIS.GA compact fuel saving system installed on its cranes, SAGT is able to reduce the idle engine speed by up to 40% and achieves a direct fuel saving without any interruption during changeover from operations mode to idle mode.  During idle time RIS.GA supplies the cranes’ auxiliary devices.

As a result, SAGT has reduced the total fuel consumption by 22% with minimum modification to the present systems.  The resulting ROI is less than two years.  SAGT is supported by Control Techniques’ local technical service to ensure that systems perform to their optimum level.

As well as reducing fuel costs, RIS.GA has effectively boosted crane productivity too.  As the number of fuel stoppages are fewer and the wear and stress on the diesel engine, generator and auxiliaries are also reduced, this cuts maintenance downtime and costs, and is expected to extend plant life.   And, of course, since emissions are cut, the environmental impact is also reduced.

The RIS.GA system is very compact and was supplied fully wired and assembled, ready to install.  As it is a static electronic system, it requires little or no maintenance.

RIS.GA has been applied successfully on rubber tyre gantry and mobile harbour cranes throughout the world and is saving fuel on cranes manufactured by ZPMC, Kalmar, MGM-OMG, Doosan and Fantuzzi Reggiane.  In many cases, savings can be as much as 50% with ROI as short as one to two years, depending on local oil costs, with proven reduced wear and stress extending the working life of the diesel engine, generator and electrical auxiliaries.

Control Techniques is part of Emerson Industrial Automation and has almost 30 years’ experience in supplying complete automation systems for port and factory cranes.  The company’s automation systems are proven in ports around the world and are supported by a global engineering network of specialist Drive Centres.

The first contract is through the TTS subsidiary TTS Offshore Handling Equipment AS in Bergen, Norway, and regards a contract worth approx. 40 MNOK. The contract is with Kleven Verft AS in Norway and concerns delivery of an active heave compensated subsea crane on a offshore construction vessel for REM Offshore ASA.

Delivery will take place in December 2013.

The second contract is through the TTS subsidiary TTS Marine GmbH in Bremen, Germany, and regards a contract worth approx. 17 MNOK with the Sainty Marine Corporation Ltd. in Nanjing, China. The contracts concerns delivery of cargo cranes on two bulk carriers ordered by a Greek shipowner.

TTS Marine GmbH has an option for delivery of cranes for another eight bulk carriers for the same shipowner. Dependent on how many ships are ordered, the total contract series can amount up to approx. 104 MNOK.  

Deliveries will take place in 2013 and 2014.